APOChVPHAL ACTS
OF
PJIUL, PETER, JOHN,
TlNDREWANDTHOnnS
BY
BERNHARD PICK
SEEN BY
PRESERVAIfON
SEiWlCES
DATE
m m iH
II3MRY Sty
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive
in 2007 witii funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
littp://www.arcliive.org/details/apocryplialactsofOOpickuoft
V
THE
APOCRYPHAL ACTS
OF
PAUL, PETER, JOHN,
ANDREW and THOMAS
BY
BERNHARD PICK
CHICAGO
THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING CO.
LONDON AGENTS
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd,
1909
Copyright 1909
by
THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING CO.
CHICAGO
m^
PREFACE
The publication of the epoch-making work by
Lipsius on the Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles
comprising about 1800 pages closely printed;
Schmidt's Coptic Acta Pauli, more especially the
critical edition of the Apocryphal Acts by Lipsius
and Bonnet, have opened a large, but very little cul-
tivated field of ancient Christian literature. The old-
est of these Acts are those which are treated in the
present volume. They give us a picture of Chris-
tianity towards the end of the second century.
They are important for the history of the Christian
cultus in the second and third cent., and by their
description of the divine service in the houses they
supplement of picture delineated in the Acts of the
Apostles. They are also important for the his-
tory of Christian poetry which commences among
the Gnostics ; in short : though these Acts contain
both " truth and fiction," they cannot be ignored
by the teacher and preacher, the missionary and
historian. What has hitherto been a terra incog-
nita generally speaking, has now been made accessi-
ble, especially by the beautiful edition of Lipsius
and Bonnet, whose text must now be considered as
textits receptus. Tischendorf's text which was pub-
lished in 185 1, is now superseded by this later pub-
iv PREFACE
lication, and what is said of the text concerns also
the EngHsh translation of Apocryphal Acts based on
Tischendorf s work. As an illustration we only re-
fer to the fact that chaps, 39-41, 62-158 now found
in the Acts of Thomas are wanting in Tischendorf's
edition. The Acts of Paul and Thecla formerly
regarded as a separate book, are now proven to be a
part of the Acts of Paul, to which also belongs the
so-called third epistle to the Corinthians. Without
calling attention to many other points, it is obvious
that the Apocryphal Acts, as far as they have been
translated into English, need a thorough revision,
if not a new translation. For the present we offer
the oldest and therefore most important Acts,
That these Acts cannot be ignored because they
form an important contribution to the primitive
literature of the Church, the reader can readily see
from the special introductions and literature. In
the preparation of the present volume the work
edited by Edgar Hennecke has been of great help.
I have also made free use of the English translation
of the Apocryphal Acts by A, Walker in the Ante-
Nicene Christian Library (Edinb. 1867), as far as
was possible. In other respects the present work
is entirely independent, and whatever its shortcom-
ings may be, we have the satisfaction that it is the
first effort to make the researches of Lipsius, Bon-
net, Schmidt, etc, accessible to the English reader.
B. P,
Newark, New Jersey, Nov, 1908,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
. Preface iii
General Introduction to Apocryphal Acts . vii
I. THE ACTS OF PAUL i
A. The Acts of Paul and Thecla .... 8
B. Paul's correspondence with the Corin-
thians 35
C. The Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Paul 43
n. THE ACTS OF PETER 50
1. The deed of Peter 52
2. Peter's affair with Simon 57
Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Peter . . 106
m. THE ACTS OF JOHN 123
1. Acts of the Holy Apostle John the The-
ologian 126
2. Arrival at Ephesus and Work there .136
Lycomedes and Cleopatra 136
The picture of John 142
Healing of the old women 145
Destruction of the Artemis Temple . . 148
The Raising of the Priest 152
The Parricide 154
John and the Partridge 157
3. Return to Ephesus and Second Abode there 159
From Laodicea a second time to Ephesus . 159
End and Raising up of Drusiana . . . 161
4. Pertaining to the life of Jesus and His
Death 175
5. The end of John 188
Appendix : John and the robber . . . 196
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
IV. THE ACTS OF ANDREW 200
1. The double fragment of Euodius .... 201
2. Andrew in prison 203
3. The death of Andrew 215
V. THE ACTS OF THOMAS 222
The deeds of the holy Apostle Thomas . . . 225
First deed of the Apostle Judas Thomas. How
the Lord sold him to the merchant Abban,
that he should go down and convert India . 225
Second deed of the Apostle Thomas. His ap-
pearance before King Gundafor .... 238
Third deed. About the dragon 250
Fourth deed. Concerning the colt .... 260
Fifth deed. About the demon that dwelt in
the woman 262
Sixth deed. Concerning the young man who
killed the maiden 270
Seventh deed. Concerning the commander . 279
Eighth deed. About the wild asses .... 284
Ninth deed. About the wife of Charis . . . 294
Tenth deed. How Mygdonia receives baptism . 323
Eleventh deed. Concerning the wife of Misdai 333
Twelfth deed. Concerning Vazan, Misdai's son 338
Thirteenth deed. How Vazan and the others
were baptized 348
Martyrdom of the Holy and Famous Apostle
Thomas 355
I. INDEX OF PASSAGES 2,^2,
IL INDEX OF SUBJECTS 366
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO
APOCRYPHAL ACTS.
LITERATURE
Zahn, Th., Acta Joannis, Erlangen,
Lipsius, R.A. Die apokryphcn Apostelgeschichten und Apos-
tellegcnden, I, Braunschweig, 1883; II, i, 1887; II,
2, 1884; supplement, 1890; see also Liidemann, "Die
apokryphcn Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden
von R.A. Lipsius," in Prot. Kirchenzeitung, 1887, Nos.
42-46; H. Lietz, "Der gnostisch-christliche Character
der apokr. Apostelgeschichten und Legenden im An-
schluss an R.A. Lipsius" in Zeitschrift fiir wissen-
schaftliche Theologie, 37 (1894), 34-57-
Zahn, Geschichte des Neutestamentlichen Kanons, II, 2
(1892), 797-910.
"Die Wanderungen des Apostels Johannes" in Neue
Kirchliche Zeitschrift, X, 1899, p. 191 ff-
Forschungen zur Geschichte des Neutest. Kanons VI
(1900), p. 14 fif., 194 ff.
Preuschen in Harnack, Geschichte der Altchristlichen Lit-
teratxir, I (1893), p. 1 16-128. I3i-i34-
Batifoll. Art. " Actes apocryphes des Apotres " in Vigour-
oux' Dictionnaire de la Bible, I (1895), p. 159-165.
Duchesne, " Les anciens recueils de legendes apostoliques,"
in Compte rendu dtt III. congres scientiiique inter-
national des Catholiques tenu a Bruxelles, V. section
(Sciences historiques), Brux. 1895, p. 67-79.
Kriiger, Geschichte der altchristlichen Litteratur in den ersten
drei Jahrhunderten, 1895, with supplement 1898, §§ 30,
102.
James, M.R., Apocrypha Anecdota 11 (Texts and studies, V,
I, 1897), p. ix ff.
viii INTRODUCTION
Ehrhard, A., Die altchristliche Literatur und ihre Erfor-
schung von 1884-1900, 1900, p. 151 f.
Liechtenhan, R., Die Offenbarung im Gnosticismus, 1901, p.
49 ff., 150 ff. ; " Die pseudepigraphe Litteratur der Gnos-
tiker" in Zeitschrift fUr die Neutest. Wissenschaft
III, 1902, p. 287 fif.
Bardenhewer, O., Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur I,
1902, p. 414 ff,
Schmidt, C., Die alten Petrusakten im Zusammenhang der
Apokryphen Apostellitteratur, 1903.
Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 1904.
Handbuch su den Neutestamentlichen Apokryphen, 1904.
Clemen, Paulus, I (1904), 2,22) ff-
Leipoldt, Geschichte des Neutestamentlichen Kanons, I (1907),
258 ff.
Bruyne, D. de, " Nouveaux fragments des Actes de Pierre,
de Paul, de Jean, d'Andre et de I'Apocalypse d'Elie "
(Revue Benedictine, 25 (1908), No. 2).
Editions. Fabricius, Codex apocryphus Novi Testamenti II,
1703.
Tischendorf, Acta Apostolorum apocrypha, 1851.
Lipsius — Bonnet, Acta Apostolorum apocrypha. Vol. I, 1891
(containing the Acts of Peter, Paul, Paul and Peter,
Paul and Thecla, and Thaddseus) ; Vol. II, i, 1898
(containing the Passion of Andrew, Acts of Andrew,
Martyrdom of Andrew, Passion of Andrew and Mat-
thias, Acts of Peter and Andrew, Passion of Bar-
tholomew, Acts of John, Martyrdom of Matthew) ;
Vol. II, 2 (1903), containing the Acts of Philip and
Thomas together with the Acts of Barnabas. The
first volume was edited by Lipsius ; the second by
Bonnet.
The late Professor R.A. Lipsius, of Jena (d. 1892), thus
opens his epoch-making work Die apokryphen Apostelge-
schichten und Apostellegenden (1893-91) :
"Under the name of Acts or Deeds (praxeis, acta, actus),
Circuits or Journeys (periodoi), and Martyrdom or Consum-
mation {martyrion, teleiosis) of the various apostles was
comprised in the times of Christian antiquity a widely spread
INTRODUCTION ix
and manifold literature, of which very important remains
exist. As early as the second century numerous legendary
reports concerning the fates of the apostles were in circu-
lation, in part, at least, of a very romantic character. The
real history of the lives and deaths of most of the apostles
being shrouded in obscurity, a pious imagination was very
early busily employed in filling up the large lacunae left in
the historical reminiscences of the church. Not a few of
such narratives owe their origin simply to an endeavor to
satisfy the pious curiosity or taste for the marvelous in
members of the primitive church; while others subserved
the local interests of particular towns or districts which
claimed to have derived their Christianity from the mission-
ary activity of one of the apostles, or their line of bishops
from one immediately ordained by him. It likewise not in-
frequently happened that party spirit, theological or ecclesias-
tical, would take advantage of a pious credulity to further
its own ends by manipulating the older legends, or invent-
ing others entirely new, after a carefully preconceived form
and pattern. And so almost every fresh editor of such
narratives, using that freedom which all antiquity was wont
to allow itself in dealing with literary monuments, would
reveal the materials which lay before him, excluding what-
ever might not suit his theological point of view — dogmatic
statement, for example, speeches, prayers, etc., for which he
would substitute other formulae of his own composition,
and further expanding or abridging after his own pleasure,
or as the immediate object which he had in view might dic-
tate. Only with the simply miraculous parts of the narrative
was the case different. These passed unaltered and un-
questioned from one hand to another, ecclesiastical circles
the most opposed in other respects having here equal and
coinciding interests, while the critical spirit, usually so acute
in detecting erroneous opinions or heretical tendencies, was
contented here to lay down its arms, however troubled or
suspected the source from which such legendary narration
might flow. Therefore, although these fables originated for
the most part in heretical quarters, we find them at a later
period among the cherished possessions of ordinary Cath-
olics, acquaintance with them being perpetually renewed or
X INTRODUCTION
their memory preserved in Catholic Christendom, partly by
the festal homilies of eminent Fathers, and partly by religious
poetry and works of sacred art. Like all legends or myths
preserved in popular memory, however, they present great
difficulties in the way of a satisfactory treatment from a
literary point of view, perpetually springing up, as they do,
afresh, now here, now there, now in one shape, now in an-
other, and again withdrawing themselves in a tantalizing
way, for a longer or shorter period, from the eyes of the
historical inquirer. The older church martyrologies and cal-
endars, subject as they were to continuous processes of
change and augmentation, and the collectanea of later chron-
iclers and legend writers, who for the most part copied one
from another, have furnished us with rich stores of legendary
matter, which only in rare instances can be satisfactorily
traced back to their original sources."
There can be no doubt that numerous apocryphal apostle-
legends were current during the second century, and that
certain written recensions existed, as may be seen from
allusions and references by early writers. But with the
fourth century the testimonies as to the existence and use
of apocryphal Acts become numerous. Most explicit in this
respect is the testimony of Photius, patriarch of Constantino-
ple, A. D. 858, who in his Bibl., cod. 114, speaks of a volume
purporting to be written by Leucius Charinus,i and con-
taining the travels of Peter, John, Andrew, Thomas and Paul.
Photius describes the book 2 as both foolish and heretical.
It taught the existence of two Gods — an evil one, the
God of the Jews, having Simon IMagus for his minister; and
a good one, whom, confounding the two Persons it iden-
tified with Christ. It denied the reality of Christ's incarna-
tion, and gave a Docetic account of his life on earth, and
in particular of his crucifixion; it condemned marriage, and
regarded all generation as the work of the evil principle;
and it told several silly and childish stories. We can satis-
1 Schmidt (loc. cit. pp. 27-77), after examining the direct
and indirect testimonies of tradition, comes to the conclu-
sion that the authorship of Leucius can originally only be
claimed for the Acts of John.
2 The passage is given by Zahn, Acta Joannis, p. 215 f.
INTRODUCTION XI
factorily trace these Acts back to the fourth century by
means of references in writers of that date. At that time
they were chiefly in use among the Manichseans; yet there
are grounds for looking on them as more ancient than that
heresy, which only began toward the end of the third century.
We do not find, indeed, the name of Leucius in any writer
earlier than the fourth century; yet earlier writers show
acquaintance with stories which we know to have been in
the Leucian Acts; whence the conclusion has been drawn
that these Acts are really a second-century production, and
that they found favor with the Manichseans on account of
the affinity of their doctrines. From Epiphanius we know
that these Acts were also largely in use among other heretical
parties, and much that still remains to us seems frequently
to favor older sectarian opinions, although in our present
texts the most characteristic passages have been toned down
or removed. Scarcely one of these Gnostic Acts of the
Apostles has come down to us wholly untampered with;
while, on the other hand, even in works which have already
passed several times through the reforming hands of Cath-
olic revisers, some of the old Gnostic features, despite all
their efforts, are still distinctly traceable.
The original purpose with which these apocryphal writings
were composed was that of diffusing a knowledge of the
doctrines and customs of the various Gnostic schools,^ and
of setting up against the Catholic tradition another which
appealed with no less confidence to the authority of apostles
and their immediate disciples. And yet it was hardly as a
sort of rival or additional canon that these writings were
presented to the Christian public of those times. They
aimed, rather, at supplying a popular kind of religious read-
ing in the shape of tracts set forth by the Gnostic propaganda,
which, professing to contain historical reminiscences from
s Schmidt contends that these Acts have their origin within
the Catholic Church itself — "probably in the reign of Sep-
timius Severus, about the beginning of the third century, at
a time when Gnostic views, in a hazy form, were widely
held, and had not yet taken a shape definite enough to pro-
voke the hostility and condemnation of orthodox Church
Councils,"
Xii INTRODUCTION
apostolic times, and composed in the credulous spirit of the
age, seemed to satisfy the demands of pious curiosity and
soon obtained an extensive circulation. Catholic bishops and
teachers did not know how better to stem this flood of
Gnostic writings and their influence among the faithful, than
by boldly adopting the most popular narrations from the
heretical books, and, after carefully eliminating the poison of
false doctrine, replacing them in this purified form in the
hands of the people. That this process of purification was
not always complete need not surprise us when we consider
how changeable or uncertain on some points was the boundary
line between Gnostic and Catholic doctrines. Thus originated
the many castrated and revised editions of the Acts of Peter,
Paul, John, Andrew, Thomas, Philip, Matthew, and others,
vvhich are found in Greek, Latin, Syriac, Armenian, Arabic,
Coptic, Ethiopic, Anglo-Saxon, and ancient Slavonic lan-
guages.
In general, however, says Lipsius whom we follow for
the most part, these Gnostic productions, apart from any
more or less marked assertion of heretical dogmas or rules
of life, betray their real origin by the overgrowths of a
luxuriant imagination, by their highly colored pictures, and
by their passionate love for mythical additions and adorn-
ments in excess even of the popular belief in signs and
wonders. The favorite critical canon — " the more romantic
the more recent in origin" — does not hold good as against
this branch of literature, in which exorcising of demons,
raisings of the dead, and other miracles of healing or of
punishment are multiplied endlessly. The incessant repeti-
tion of the like wonders baffles the efforts of the most
lively imagination to avoid a certain monotony, interrupted,
however, by dialogues and prayers, which not seldom afford
a pleasant relief, and are sometimes of a genuinely poetical
character. There is withal a rich apparatus of the super-
natural, consisting of visions, angelic appearances, voices
from heaven, speaking animals and demons, who with shame
confess their impotence against the champions of the truth;
unearthly streams of light descend, or mysterious signs ap-
pear, from heaven; earthquakes, thunders and lightnings
terrify the ungodly; the elements of wind and fire and
INTRODUCTION Xlll
water minister to the righteous; wild beasts, dogs, serpents,
lions, bears and tigers are tamed by a single word from
the mouths of the apostles, or turn their rage against the
persecutors ; dying martyrs are encompassed by wreaths of
light or heavenly roses and lilies and enchanting odors,
while the abyss opens to devour their enemies. The Devil
himself is often introduced into these stories in the form of
a black Ethiopian, and plays a considerable part. But the
visionary element is the "favorite one. Our Lord often ap-
pears to his servants, now as a beautiful youth, and again'
as a seaman, or as a shepherd, or in the form of an apostle;
holy martyrs return to life to manifest themselves, at one
time to their disciples, at another to their persecutors.
Dreams and visions announce beforehand to apostles their
approaching martyrdom, or to longing souls among the
heathen the fulfillment of their desires. All this fantastic
scenery has been left, for the most part, untouched by
Catholic revisers, and remains, therefore, in works which
in other respects have been most thoroughly recast. Yet
it was only in very rare cases that these romantic creations
of fancy were themselves the original object in view with
the writers who produced them. That object was either
some dogmatic interest, or, where such retired into the back-
ground, an ascetic purpose. Many of these narratives were
simply invented to extol the meritoriousness of the celibate
life, or to commend the severest abstinence in the estate
of matrimony. At this point Catholic revisers have been
careful throughout to make regular alterations, now de-
grading legitimate wives to the position of concubines, and
now introducing objections connected with nearness of kin
or other circumstances which might justify the refusal or
the repudiation of a given marriage. But where merely the
praise of virginity was concerned the views of Catholics and
Gnostics were nearly identical, except that the former re-
fused to regard the maintenance of that estate as an ab-
solute or universal moral obligation.
Recent investigations have shown that in large portions
of these Acts genuine reminiscences are to be found, though
not in reference to the legends themselves, yet in regard to
the setting in which they are presented to us, their secular
XIV INTRODUCTION
historical background, or their geographical and ethnograph-
ical scenery. Yet, at the same time, all efforts to derive
from them any trustworthy particulars as to the actual his-
tories of the apostles themselves, or to extract from the
confused mass of legends any sound historical nucleus, have
hitherto proved almost always unsuccessful. Such are in
the main the characteristic points given by Lipsius in the
beginning of his work mentioned before.
THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
I.
THE ACTS OF PAUL.
LITERATURE
Harnack, Geschichte der altchrisflichen Literatur, I, 128-131 ;
II, I, 491-93-
Zahn, Geschichte des Nentestamcntlichen Kanons, II, 2, 865-
92.
Schmidt, Die Paulusakten (Neue Heidelberger Jahrbiicher),
1897, p. 217 fif. ; comp. Zahn in Ncue Kirchliche Zeit-
schrift, VIII (1897), p. 933-40; Harnack, Theologische
Literatnrseitung, 1897, no. 24.
Harnack in Texte und Untersuchungcn (new series), IV,
3, 1899; V, 3 (1900), p. 100-106.
Ehrhard, Die altchristliche Litteratur (1900), p. 152 ff.
Bardenhewer, Geschichte der altchristlichn Literatur, I (1902),
p. 424-28.
Corssen, "Die Urgestalt der Paulusakten" (in Zeitschrift
fiir die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, 1903).
Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 1904, pp. 357 fif.
and Handbuch, pp. 358 fif.
Schmidt, Acta Pauli (aus der Heidelberger Koptischen Papy-
rus Handschrift No. i herausgegeben), 2 vols.; Leipzig
1904.
Leipoldt, Geschichte des N eutestamentlichen Kanons, Vol. i
(Leipzig 1907), p. 258 ff.
Bardenhewer, Patrology (English translation by Th. J. Sha-
han), St. Louis, 1908, p. 100 fif.
Schmidt, Ein neues Fragment der Heidelberger Acta Pauli in
" Sitzungsbericht der Preussischen Akademie der Wis-
senschaften ; Berlin 1909, p. 216-220.
I
2 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
The Acts of Paul (Praxeis Pauiu, or Acta, also Actus
Pauli) are first mentioned by Origen, who quotes twice
from them. Thus we read Horn, in John XX, 12 : " if any
one likes to receive that which is written in the Acts of
Paul as said of the Saviour, ' I go to be crucified again.' "
In a somewhat different form the same phrase occurs in
the Acts of Peter. Since it is impossible to imagine that
Origen should confound the Acts of Peter which were re-
jected as heretical with the Acts of Paul which he highly
esteemed, Harnack may very well be right in supposing that
the old Acts of Peter did not contain an account of Peter's
martyrdom, but that this originally occurred in the Acts of
Paul.
The second reference is found in De Princip., I, 2, 3, where
we read : " Hence that word appears to me also spoken cor-
rectly which is written in the Acts of Paul : ' This is the
word, a living being,' though not expressed so well as in
the Prologue to the Fourth Gospel."
Without name the Acts are also referred to by Hippolytus
{Commentary on Daniel, HI, 29, 4 ed. Bonwetsch 176) who
says : " for if we believe that when Paul was condemned
to the wild beasts, the lion that was loosed upon him lay down
at his feet and licked him, why should we not believe what
happened in the case of Daniel in the lion's den?" This
seems to suppose that the writing which contained the narra-
tive concerning Paul was regarded as trustworthy in Church
circles. Besides, the parallels are so obvious that there can
be no doubt as to the author of the work. That the state-
ment of Hippolytus is taken from the Acts of Paul is clear
from the statement of Nicephorus Callisti {Church history,
II, 25 in Migne, " Patrologia Grseca," Vol. CXLV, Col. 821-
824, Paris 1865 ),i who relates that this incident was re-
lated in the Periodoi Pauli.
This historian of the XIV. cent, speaks of Paul's fight with
the beasts at Ephesus.
Nicephorus introduces his narrative with the words that
those who described the " travels of Paul " recorded also
very many things which he had already done before and
1 The text is also reprinted in Schmidt, Acta Pauli, p. in.
ACTS OF PAUL 3
suffered (before), as well as at the time when he was in
Ephesus. That the " Journeys or Circuits of Paul " are iden-
tical with the " Acts or Deeds of Paul " needs no explana-
tion.
Nicephorus then continues as follows : " When Jerome
was head of the city, Paul came forth boldly. And he
(Jerome) said, ' This is very good, but not the right time
for such speeches.' The populace of the city, however, being
enraged, had Paul put in chains and locked up in prison,
till he was cast before the lions to be eaten. But Eubula
and Artemilla, the wives of prominent Ephesians, who were
his disciples and sought his communion at night, desired
the grace of divine baptism. By means of an extraordinary
divine power and angels, which had spears and illuminated
the darkness of the night by the abundance of inner splendor,
Paul was released from his fetters and brought them to
perfection through the divine baptism, having gone to the
seashore without being noticed by the prison keepers. He
returned again to the prison, to be kept as food for the
lions. A very big and strong lion was let loose upon him,
and having run up to his feet, lay down, and though many
more beasts were let loose upon him, none would touch the
holy body, which was supported and strengthened by prayer.
While this was going on, an awful hailstorm came and
crushed the heads of many men and of the wild beasts.
Jerome too was hit by a hailstone, and in consequence of
this he turned with his followers to the God of Paul, and
received baptism. But the lion ran away to the mountains,
and Paul sailed thence to Macedonia and Greece." 2
Eusebius (Hist, eccles.. Ill, 25, 4), places the Acts of Paul
amongst the Antilegomena, under the heading of nothoi or
spurious, but ranks them with the Shepherd of Hermas,
the Apocalypse of Peter, the Epistle of Barnabas, the
Didache, and even the Apocalypse of John and the Epistle
of the Hebrews.
In the list of books given in the Codex Claromontanus
2 Rernains of a sermon of the Apostle at Athens have
been discovered in John of Salisbury (about 1156) in his
Policraticus IV, 3 (see James, Apocrypha Anecdota in " Texts
and Studies" I, 55).
4 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
(of the VI. cent.) the order is Barnabas, Apocalypse, Acts
of the Apostles, Hernias, Acts of Paul, Apocalypse of Peter.
In the stichometry of Nicephorus, besides the journeys of
Peter, John, Thomas, also " the journeys of Paul " are men-
tioned. They contained 3600 stichoi. That the Acts of Paul
are meant thereby there can be no doubt, for the number of
stichoi is almost identical with the 3560 stichoi, ascribed
to the Acts of Paul in the Codex Claromontanus.
The Muratorian Fragment and the Decretum Gelasianum
(proclaimed 496) do not mention the Acts of Paul. The
latter mentions instead the Actus Pauli et Thcclce, which
shows that long before the promulgation of the Gelasian
decree the Acts of Paul and Thecla must have been de-
tached from the main body of the " Acts." This accounts
for the fact that till recently we knew considerably little
of the Acts of Paul which were so highly esteemed in the
Eastern Church.
The discovery of fragments of a Coptic translation of the
Acts of Paul made by Prof. Carl Schmidt, has supplied us
with enough material to enable us to reconstruct the original
Acts. Aside from the three known portions : the Thecla nar-
rative, the correspondence of Paul with the Corinthians, and
the Martyrdom of Paul, the Coptic fragments, as far as
they could be deciphered, supply enough material to show
at least the connection of the narrative.
From the Acta Pauli published by Schmidt, we learn the
following: The story opens with a deed of Paul at Antioch
in Pisidia, where he raised from the dead the son of An-
chares and Phila, who were evidently Jews. Being invited
by Anchares to stay with him, Paul spends eight days in
the house of Anchares. The Jews insist that Anchares
should drive Paul from the city. But it seems that the
apostle had anticipated them. Anchares openly professes
Jesus as the Son of God. Now the Jews bring the apostle
back to the city, abuse him, stone him and finally drive
him away from the city. Anchares, who will not recom-
pense evil with evil, retires with his wife to his house,
where he fasts and prays. In the evening Paul returns
again to Anchares, bids him farewell and betakes himself
to Tconium.
ACTS OF PAUL 5
This is followed by the story of Paul and Thecla, the
greater part of which is preserved.
The next scene is at Myra, where Thecla left him.s Here
lived the dropsical Hermocrates. Having heard of the
power of the God whom Paul preached, he fell down at
the feet of Paul together with his wife and children, be-
seeching his help. The apostle promised to help him in the
name of Jesus Christ. At this the dropsical man fell down,
his body opened and much water came forth. Those that
stood by, believed the sufferer to be dead; but the apostle
lifted him up and gave him bread to eat. At this Hermo-
crates and his wife were baptized. But the elder son Her-
mippus was not pleased with the turn of affairs, as he had
already been counting on the inheritance. With his friends
he plotted against the life of the apostle. In the mean-
time the second son of Hermocrates, Dion, who carefully
listened to the words of the apostle, hurt himself and died.
The apostle restored him to life again. Being admonished
in a vision of the danger which threatened him, he re-
ceives Hermippus who rushes upon him with his drawn
sword with the same word with which Jesus met the bailiffs
in Gethsemane. Hermippus suddenly grows blind. He asks
his companions not to leave him in his misery and accuses
himself of having persecuted innocent blood. He prays all
to ask Paul to cure him from his blindness and reminds
them of what Paul did for his father and brother. Paul
being deeply moved, goes away. The companions carry
Hermippus to the house, in which Paul is teaching. The
blind man touches the feet of all who went in and asks
them to intercede for him before Paul. Among these are
his parents Hermocrates and Nympha who bring corn and
money to be distributed among the poor because of Dion's
deliverance. The parents are greatly distressed at the con-
dition of their son. Paul and the parents pray for Hermip-
pus; he is healed and imagines that the apostle put his
hand on him. . . . From Myra Paul went to Sidon.
On the way some Christians from Perge in Pamphylia join
him, Thrasymachus and Aline (or Alype) Cleon and
3 See Acts of Paul and Thecla, sect. 40.
6 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Chrysa, who entertain the apostle. They rest under a tree
( ?) where there is a heathen altar. Paul speaks of con-
tamination by idolatry, against which an old man protests
who tries to persuade the hearers to retain the old belief,
adducing many instances, where the adoption of Christianity
caused the death of the converts. ... In Sidon Paul
preaches, exhorting the inhabitants to think of Sodom and
Gomorrha, and admonishes them to believe because of his
miracles. On this account he is imprisoned with Thrasy-
machus and Cleon in the temple of Apollo, and supplied
with precious victuals. Paul however fasts three days and
prays in the night for the help of God. At once one-half
of the temple falls down. When the servants of the temple
and the conspirators see this, they proclaimed it in the
whole city. The inhabitants run to the temple, where they
find Paul and his companions weeping " because of this
temptation, which will make them a spectacle for all." At
the request of the multitude they are led into the theatre.
. . . (What happened here we know not. It seems that
miracles were performed for the salvation of Paul, which
changed the opinion of the people. For in the end the)
" God is praised, who sent Paul, and a certain Theudes is
baptized." Paul leaves Sidon for Tyre.
In Tyre Paul casts out some devils and two men Amphion
and Chrysippus are mentioned, with whom he has to do.
(After this comes a series of mutilated fragments, but
the apostle is supposed by the editor of the Coptic Acts to
travel on to Jerusalem, since we come to a fragment belong-
ing to the first half which runs as follows: "thou findest
thyself in view of Jerusalem. But I trust in the Lord that
thou wilt . . . Saul . . ." Since in the following
the name of Peter is mentioned, it is possible that Paul
meets him at Jerusalem, probably at the time of the apos-
tolic council.)
The next fragment shows the apostle as prisoner in a
mine, where, we know not. A certain Longinus is intro-
duced, whose daughter Phrontina is condemned to be hurled
from a rock. As Paul is blamed for the fate of the daugh-
ter, the father insists that the apostle should also die with
her. In a vision Paul is made aware of the attempt on
ACTS OF PAUL 7
his life, but he goes about his work with the other pris-
oners as usual. On the third day Phrontina, lamented by
her parents and soldiers, is carried forth on a bier to meet
her death. . . . Paul raises Phrontina from the dead,
and leads her through the city to the house of her father.
The result is that the God who restored to life Phrontina,
is now acknowledged by the multitude as the only God,
the creator of heaven and earth. Paul goes to Philippi.
Here, as presently appears, Paul was put in prison be-
cause of Stratonike, the wife of Apollophanes. While at
Philippi, messengers came to Paul with a letter from
Corinth complaining of the teaching of Simon and Cleobius
(Here follows the correspondence).
Another fragment contains a farewell scene, which re-
minds us of a like one, at Miletus, mentioned in the Acts
of the Apostles, chap. xx. Paul says : " The grace of the
Lord shall go with me, that I may finish in patience all
administration, which shall come to me." When they heard
this, they became sad and fasted. And Cleobius rose up,
and speaking through the spirit said to them : " Brethren,
the [Almighty?] will permit Paul to accomplish all and
allow him to go up [to Jerusalem?]; thence he shall teach
. in great instruction and knowledge and sowing of
the word, that he will be envied, that he departs from this
world." When the brethren and Paul heard this, they
lifted up their voice, saying: . . . But the spirit came
upon Myrte, and she said : " Brethren, . . . and look
at this sign, by ( ?) . . . Paul namely, the servant of
the Lord, shall save many at Rome, and nourish many by
the word, that they shall be without number, and he re-
veals himself more than all believers. Then shall . . .
come of the Lord Jesus Christ and a great mercy shall be
. in Rome." And this is the manner in which the
Spirit spoke to Myrte. All partake then of the bread, are
filled with joy and celebrate the Lord's Supper, singing
psalms. — This is the substance of the Coptic fragments.
Who was the author of the Acts of Paul? Tertullian
(between 220 and 240) writes in his treatise Dc Bapfismo,
ch. XVn : " But if any defend those things which have
been rashly ascribed to Paul, under the example of Thecla,
8 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
so as to give license to women to teach and baptize, let
them know that the presbyter in Asia, who compiled the
account, as it were, under the title of Paul, accumulating
of his own store, being convicted of what he had done, and
confessing that he had done it out of love to Paul, was
removed from his place. For how could it seem probable
that he who would not give any firm permission to a
woman to learn should grant to a female to teach and
baptize?" There can be no doubt that this account of
Tertullian refers to the whole work and not merely to the
Acts of Paul and Thecla. For in the latter little or nothing
is said of deeds of the apostle. All which we now have
of the Acts of Paul are only portions which were early
detached from the original work. We can therefore apply
the remark of Tertullian to the entire work, which was com-
posed by a presbyter in Asia who was deposed because he
used the name of the apostle. And it is interesting to know
that amongst the Coptic fragments is the conclusion of the
whole MS. together with the statement; "The Acts of Paul
according to the Apostle," i.e. according to St. Paul himself.
The author being a presbyter of Asia, whose history Ter-
tullian knows, we may take it for granted that the Acts
were composed at least before A.D. 200, perhaps some-
where between 165 and 195, and most probably within a few
years of the middle of that period. Hennecke puts the time
between 160-180; Leipoldt names the year 180.
The Acta Fault were no doubt intended to show the pop-
ular Christianity of the second century, of which Paul was
the best exponent. The tendency of the author was to give
a counterpart to the canonical Acts of the Apostles. The
author who wrote " out of love to Paul " was deposed, but
his work retained an honorable place in the Church liter-
ature.
A. The Acts of Paul and Thecla.
LITERATURE
Pick. Art. " Acts of Thecla and Paul," in McClintock and
Strong's Cyclop., Vol. X (1881), 310-314, where the
older literature is also given.
ACTS OF PAUL 9
Pick, The "Acts of Paul and Thecla " in Lutheran Quar-
terly, 1888, 585-601.
Harnack, Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, I, 136 ff.,
II, 491-508.
Zahn, Geschichte des neutestamentlichen Kanons, II, 2 p.
892-910.
Von Gebhardt, " Die lateinischen Uebersetzungen der Acta
Pauli et Theclae" (in Texteund Untersuchungen, XXII,
2 (1902).
Lipsius, Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten, II, i (1887), pp.
424-467.
Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha, I (1891) pp. XCIV-CVI ;
235-272.
Gwynn. Art. " Thecla " in Diet, of Christian Biography, IV
(1887), 882-896.
Wohlenberg, " Die Bedeutung der Thekla-Akten fuer die
neutest. Forschung" (in Zeitschrift fuer Kirchliche
Wissenschaft und Kirchliches Leben, IX (1888), 363-
382.
Rey, Etude sur les Acta Pauli et Theclcr, et la legende de
Thecla, Paris, 1890.
Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire, 3d ed. London,
1894, 375-428.
Conybeare, The Apology and Acts of Apollonius and other
monuments of Early Christianity, London 1894, 49-88.
Cabrol, La legende de Ste. Thecla, Paris, 1895.
Hennecke, N eutestamentliche Apokryphen, 1904, 358 ff.
Handbuch, 1904, 359 sqq.
Schmidt, Acta Pauli, 1904, 145-161.
Bardenhewer, Patrology, p. 102 ff.
Holzhey, Die Thekla-Akten, Ihre V erbreitung und Beurteilung
in der Kirche, Munich 1905.
One of the oldest and most interesting relics of the ex-
tant New Testament Apocrypha, is the Acts of St. Paul and
Thecla. They were first edited by Grabe in his Spicilegium,
Oxford, 1698 (2d ed., 1700) ; again by Tischendorf in his
Acta Apocrypha, Leipzig, 185 1 ; and more recently by Lip-
sius, who together with Bonnet, published a new edition of
Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha, 2 Vols. 1891-1903.
lO THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Grabe's text was published from a manuscript belonging
to the twelfth century. To the same time (X.-XHI. cent.)
the other manuscripts belong, and it is therefore difficult
to say at what time the Acta Theclae were detached from
the Acta Pauli. But this must have been done long before
the so-called decree of Gelasius (496) was issued, which ex-
cludes from the list of " scriptures received by the Church "
the book which is called "the Acts of Paul and Thecla."
But we have yet earlier testimonies. The earliest is that of
Tertullian, in his treatise De Baptismo, c. XVH., already
alluded to. It has been taken for granted that the meaning
is that a presbyter of Asia, somewhat towards the end of
the first century, compiled a history of Paul and Thecla,
and, instead of publishing it as a true narrative, either in
his own name, or with any name at all, but in good faith,
published it falsely, and therefore wickedly, under the name
of Paul, as though he were himself the writer; that he was
convicted of his forgery, and deposed from the priesthood.
This account has been marvelously dressed up, and some
of its advocates have ventured to say that a Montanist
writer of the name of Leucius was the real author of these
Acts. (Tillemont, Memoires, II, 446).
The next witness is Jerome, who in his Catalogus Script.
Eccl. c:7 (written about the year 392), commenting upon
the passage of Tertullian, says that the presbyter who wrote
the history of Paul and Thecla was deposed for what he
had done by John {apud Johannem) the Apostle. That
Jerome relied upon Tertullian is evident from his state-
ment; but his conduct in fathering the story of the deposition
by John upon Tertullian is inexcusable, because no such
statement was made by Tertullian. Tertullian speaks of an
Asiatic presbyter, Jerome adds apud Johannem, and his
copyists instead of "apud Johannem," write "a Johanne."
Of Eastern writers who were acquainted with our Acts,
we mention Basil, bishop of Seleucia (431-467), author of a
"Life and Miracles of St. Thecla" (see Migne, Pat. Gr.
85 col. 477 ff.), Nicetas of Paphlagonia, towards the end of
the ninth century, and Simeon Metaphrastes in the tenth.
The only writer who treats Thecla directly, and not by
way of mere passing allusion, is Methodius, the author of
ACTS OF PAUL II
Symposium Decent Virginum (written about A. D. 300). Into
this Symposium 1 or dialogue ten virgins are introduced as
contending in the presence of Arete concerning chastity.
At the end of the dialogue Thecla leads off a hymn, to
which the rest, standing round as a chorus respond : " I
keep myself pure for Thee, O Bridegroom, and holding a
lighted torch I go to meet Thee."
In inviting Thecla to speak, Arete designates her a disciple
of Paul : in her oration she speaks of those who " set little
by wealth, distinction, race or marriage, and are ready to
yield their bodies to wild beasts and to the fire, because
of their yearning and enthusiasm for the things that are
in supermundane places." After Gregorion had finished the
address, Euboulios cannot suppress her admiration ; she
knows of other acts of Thecla, with which what they have
just heard coincides, for says she : " I know her wisdom
also for other noble actions, and what sort of things she
succeeded in speaking, giving proof of supreme love to
Christ; and how glorious she often appeared in meeting the
chief conflicts of the martyrs, procuring for herself a zeal
equal to her courage, and a strength of body equal to the
wisdom of her counsels." After the last two virgins have
finished speaking, Arete addresses them all saying : " And
having in my hearing sufficiently contended by words, I
pronounce you all victors and crown you : but Thecla with
a larger and thicker chaplet, as the chief of you, and as
having shone with greater luster than the rest." From the
latter passage we can infer how greatly esteemed Thecla
was already in the third century. Allusions to her we find
also in the writings of Gregory Nazianzen. In his first
address against Julian the Apostate,^ he concluded a cat-
alogue of apostles and disciples of the apostles with Thecla;
he also speaks of her as a virgin who had escaped the
" tyranny " of her betrothed husband and her mother
(Oratio, XXIV.) and (Exhortatio ad Virgines, II) ^ connects
1 English translation in Ante-Nicene Library, Vol. XIV
(Edinburgh), 1869; another by Chatfield in Pick, Hymns
and Poeiry of the Eastern Church, N. Y., 1908, p. 27 ff.
2 Migne, Patr. Gr. 35 col., 589.
^ Ibid., 35 col., 1 180; Z7 col., 639.
12 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
her escape with Paul's suffering hunger. Gregory of Nyssa
(Horn., XIV. in Cant, cantic.)^ speaks of her as Paul's
virgin disciple, and (Vita Macrince) he calls her a virgin
martyr. Epiphanius (Hceres. 7g, 5) puts Thecla by the side
of Elias, John the Baptist and the Virgin Mother, and
praises her for sacrificing under Paul's teaching her prospects
of a prosperous marriage. Chrysostom tells us how Thecla
managed to see Paul, In his Homily, XXV. (in Acta Apost.)
he saj's : " Hear then of the blessed Thecla, who for the
sake of seeing Paul, gave up her jewels ; but thou wilt
not give an obolus for the sake of seeing Christ."
Isidore of Pelusium (Lib., I. epist. 260) calls her " pro-
tomartyr," and John of Damascus in an address on those
who have died in the faitli,^ says, that one should pray to
God not for his own soul alone, but also for that of others,
as the protomartyr Thecla had done. Zeno of Verona {De
Timore)^ of the fourth century who joins her name with
that of Daniel, Jonah, Peter gives an account of the Thecla-
Antiochian martyrdom as told in the Acts, giving as it does
particulars of the bulls goaded to attack her, her perils from
the seals, and the fiery cloud which covered her nakedness.
Ambrose joins her name with that of Agnes and with the
virgin Mother, Daniel and John as the " Immaculatus chorus
puritatis " (De lapsu virginis, c:3, 4),'' and with Miriam,
Moses' sister (epist. 63, 34 Ad Vercellensem eccles.) ; ^ and
Sulpicius Severus in his account of St. Martin of Tours,^
written about 403 narrates that Thecla together with Agnes
and Mary often appeared unto him. Even Jerome 1° though
as we have seen he rejects the written narrative of her
life, asserts the traditional prevalence of her fame by ad-
ducing her as an example of saintliness. Churches were
built in Thecla's honor. As early as 385 A. D. the " Martyri-
* Ibid., 44 col., 1067.
^ De his qui in fide dormierunt c 19 (Migne, Patr. Gr. 95
col., 253).
^Ibid., Patr. Lat., II, col., 324.
'^ Migne, Patr. Lat., 16, col., 369-370.
»Ibid., 16 col., 1 198.
^Dialog, de vita Martini, II, 13, 5, p. 106, ed. Halm.
^° Ad. Eustoch, epist. 22 (Migne, Patr. Lat., 22, col, 424) ;
Chronicum ad annum, 2,77 de Melania (ibid., 27, col., 608).
ACTS OF PAUL 1 3
um " of Thecla near Seleucia was visited by Sylvia of Aqui-
tania, who in her travels gives a description of the locality
with its monasteries and the church, which inclosed the
" Martyrium " and states that she prayed in the " Monas-
terium " and read there the holy history of Thecla.^i
From all indications it may be inferred that the work
was composed at least before A. D. 200, perhaps somewhere
between 165 and 195, and most probably within a few years
of the middle of that period. And this will hold good of
the Acts of Paul in general. Though deeply tinged with
Encratism, and notwithstanding the author's deposition from
his ministry, the history of Thecla was universally welcomed
in Catholic circles, was frequently re-edited, and often used
as a subject of homiletic discourse.
An indication of the early origin of the Acts of Thecla
is the absence of quotations from the New Testament.
There is not a single direct citation, yet the student cannot
fail to discover many instances in which the New Testament
has been used.i-
After these preliminary remarks we now give the Acts
of Paul and Thecla. The Greek text is found in Lipsius
Acta Apocrypha, I, 235-269; the Coptic, as far as it goes
and its German translation in Schmidt, Acta Pauli, pp. 27-53.
Acts of Paul and Thecla.
I. As Paul was going up to Iconium after his
flight from Antioch, his fellow-travelers were De-
mas and Hermogenes,^ the coppersmith, full of
hypocrisy, and persisted in staying with Paul, as if
they loved him. Paul looking only to the goodness
of Christ, did them ^ no harm, but loved them ex-
11 Peregrinatio S. Silvice Aquitance ad loca sancta, ed. Ga-
murrini Romse 1877, pp. 73-74.
12 For a list of such instances see my art. in McClintock
Strong, p. 313.
1 See II Tim. IV, 10; Philem. 24, Col. IV, 14; 11 Tim. i, 15.
2 " Them " omitted in the Coptic and by Grabe.
14 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ceedingly, so that he made sweet to them all ^ the
words of the Lord and the oracles of the gospel
concerning the birth and resurrection of the
Beloved; and he gave them an account, v^ord for
word, of the great deeds of Christ, how they were
revealed to him [that Christ is born of the virgin
Mary and of the seed of David].'*
2. And a certain man, by name Onesiphorus,'^
hearing that Paul was to come to Iconium, went out
to meet him with his children Simmias and Zeno,
and his wife Lectra, in order that he might enter-
tain him. For Titus had informed him what Paul
was like in appearance. For he had not seen him
in the flesh, but only in the spirit.
3. And he went along the royal road ^ to Lys-
tra, and kept looking at the passers-by according
to the description of Titus.''^ And he saw Paul
3 " All " omitted in the Coptic, but in many Greek MSS.
* The words in brackets are found in the Coptic ; the MSS.
differ here. As a rule we use [] where the texts differ;
<> means additions to the text; () denote explanatory ad-
ditions of the translator.
5 See n Tim. I, 16.
6 This royal road was abolished in 74 A. D., see Ramsay,
p. 30.
7 In the Philopatris of Pseudo-Lucian of the 4th cent.,
Paul is contemptuously alluded to as " the bald-headed, hook-
nosed Galilean, who trod the air into the third heaven, and
learned the most beautiful things."
Malala of Antioch, of the 6th cent, describes Paul as
being in person " round-shouldered, with a sprinkling of
grey on his head and beard, with an aquiline nose, greyish
eyes, meeting eyebrows, with a mixture of pale and red in
his complexion, and an ample beard. With a genial expres-
sion of countenance, he was sensible, earnest, easily accessi-
ble, sweet, and inspired with the Holy Spirit."
Nicephorus of the 14th cent, says : " Paul was short and
dwarfish in stature, and as it were, crooked in person and
ACTS OF PAUL 1 5
coming, a man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-
legged, of noble mien, with eyebrows meeting,
rather long-nosed, full of grace. For sometimes
he seemed like a man, and sometimes he had the
countenance of an angel.
4. And Paul, seeing Onesiphorus, smiled; and
Onesiphorus said, " Hail, O servant of the blessed
God." And he said, " Grace be with thee and thy
house." And Demas and Hermogenes were jeal-
ous and showed greater hypocrisy, so that Demas
said : " are we not of the blessed God, that thou
hast not thus saluted us? " And Onesiphorus said,
" I see not in you the fruit of righteousness ; but
if such you be, come also into my house and refresh
yourselves."
5. And Paul having gone into the house of
Onesiphorus, there was great joy, and bending of
knees, and breaking of bread, and the word about
self-control and the resurrection, Paul saying:
" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God;^ blessed are they that have kept the flesh
chaste, for they shall become a temple of God ; ^
blessed are they that control themselves, for God
shall speak with them; blessed are they that have
kept aloof from this world, for they shall please
slightly bent. His face was pale, his aspect winning. He
was bald-headed, and his eyes were bright. His nose was
prominent and aquiline, his beard thick and tolerably long,
and both this and his head were sprinkled with white hairs."
Lather imagined ; " St. Paulus war ein armes, durres Mann-
lein, wie Magister Philippus " (Melanchthon).
8 Matt. V, 8.
»9 Comp. I Cor. VI, 18, 19.
l6 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
God ; ^'^ blessed are they that have wives as not
having them, for they shall receive God for their
portion; ^^ blessed are they that have the fear of
God, for they shall become angels of God.
6. " Blessed are they that tremble at the word of
God, for they shall be comforted ; ^^ blessed are they
that have received the wisdom of Jesus Christ, for
they shall be called the sons of the Most High;
blessed are they that have kept the baptism, for they
shall be refreshed by the Father and the Son; blessed
are they who have come to a knowledge of Christ,
for they shall be in the light; blessed are they that
through love of God have come out from conform-
ity with the world, ^^ for they shall judge angels,
and shall be blessed at the right hand of the
Father; ^^ blessed are the merciful for they shall
obtain mercy,^^ and shall not see the bitter day of
judgment ; blessed are the bodies of the virgins, for
they shall be well pleasing to God, and shall not lose
the reward ^^ of their chastity. For the word of
the Father shall become to them a work of salva-
tion against the day of the Son, and they shall
rest ^^ for ever and ever."
7. And while Paul was thus speaking in the
midst of the congregation in the house of Onesiph-
10 Comp. Hebr. XI, 5.
Ill Cor. Vn, 29, comp. Rom. VHI, 17.
" Matt. V, 4.
"I Cor. VII, 31.
"I Cor. VI, 3; comp. Matt. XXV, 34-
" Matt. V, 7.
le Heb. XI, 5 ; comp. Matt. X, 42.
"Comp. Matt. XI, 29.
ACTS OF PAUL 17
orus, a certain virgin named Thecla, the daughter
of Theoclia, betrothed to a man named Thamyris,
sitting at the window close by, hstened day and
night to the discourse of virginity and prayer, as
proclaimed by Paul. And she did not look away
from the window, but paid earnest heed to the faith
[rejoicing exceedingly]. And when she saw many
women and virgins going in beside Paul, she also
had an eager desire to be deemed worthy to hear
the words of Christ. For she had not yet seen
Paul's figure, but heard his word only.
8. As she did not move from the window, her
mother sent to Thamyris. And he came gladly, as
if already receiving her in marriage. And Tha-
myris said to Theoclia, " Where, then, is my Thecla
<that I may see her>" ? ^^ And Theoclia an-
swered, " I have a strange story to tell thee, Tha-
myris. For three days and three nights Thecla
does not rise from the window, neither to eat, nor
to drink; but looking earnestly as if upon some
pleasant sight, she is devoted to a foreigner teach-
ing deceitful and artful discourses, that I wonder
how a virgin of her great modesty exposes herself
to such painful vexations.
9. " Thamyris ! this man will overturn the city
of the Iconians, and thy Thecla too, besides; for all
the women and the young men go in beside him to
be taught by him, who says one must fear only one
God and live in chastity. Moreover, also, my
18 So the Coptic.
l8 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
daughter, tied to the window like a spider, lays hold
of what is said by him with a strange eagerness and
awful emotion. For the virgin looks eagerly at
what is said by him, and has been captivated. But
do thou go near and speak to her, for she has been
betrothed to thee."
10. And Thamyris going near, and kissing her,
but at the same time also being afraid of her over-
powering emotion, said, " Thecla, my betrothed,
why thus? And what sort of feeling holds thee
overpowered ? Come back to thy Thamyris, and be
ashamed." Moreover, also, her mother said the
same things : " Why dost thou sit thus looking
down, my child, and answering nothing, but like a
mad woman?" And they <that were in the
house >^^ wept bitterly, Thamyris for the loss of
a wife, Theoclia of a child, and the maidservants
of a mistress. And there was a great outpouring of
lamentation in the house. And while these things
were thus going on, Thecla did not turn round, but
kept attending earnestly to the word of Paul.
11. And Thamyris, starting up, went forth into
the street, and watched all going in to Paul and
coming out. And he saw two men bitterly quarrel-
ing with each other, and he said to them, " Men,
who are you, and tell me who is this among you,
leading astray the souls of young men, and deceiv-
ing virgins, so that they do not marry, but remain
as they are? I promise you money enough if you
19 So the Coptic.
ACTS OF PAUL 19
tell me about him; for I am the first man of this
city."
12. And Demas and Hermogenes said to him,
" Who he is we know not. But he deprives the
husbands of wives and maidens of husbands, say-
ing, ' there is for you a resurrection in no other
way, except ye remain chaste and pollute not the
flesh.' "
13. And Thamyris said to them, " Come into
my house and refresh yourselves." And they w^ent
to a sumptuous supper, and much wine, and great
wealth and a splendid table. And Thamyris made
them drink, from his love to Thecla, and his wish
to get her as a wife <on the day appointed by her
mother Theoclia>.2'^ And during the supper
Thamyris said, " Ye men, tell me, what is his
teaching, that I also may know, for I am no little
distressed about Thecla, because she thus loves the
stranger, and I am prevented from marrying."
14. And Demas and Hermogenes said <as
with one mouth>2^ "Bring him before the Gov-
ernor Castellius, because he persuades the multitude
to embrace the new teaching of the Christians, and
he will destroy him, and thou shalt have Thecla as
thy wife. And we shall teach thee about the resur-
rection, that it has already taken place in the chil-
dren 22 [and w^e rise again, after having come to the
true knowledge of God]."
20 So the Latin and Syriac.
21 So the Coptic.
22 II Tim. II, 18.
20 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
15. And when Thamyris heard these things he
rose up early in the morning, and, filled with rage
and anger, he went into the house of Onesiphorus
with archons and lictors, and a great crowd with
batons and said [to Paul],^^ "Thou hast deceived
the city of the Iconians, and especially my betrothed
bride, so that she will not have me! Let us go to
the Governor Castellius ! " And the whole crowd
cried, " Away with the sorcerer ! for he has misled
all our wives," and the masses were also incited.
16. And Thamyris standing before the tribunal,
said with a great shout, " O proconsul, this man —
we know not whence he is — who makes virgins
averse to marriage, let him say before thee why he
teaches thus." But Demas and Hermogenes said to
Thamyris, " Say that he is a Christian and he will
die at once." But the proconsul stayed his inten-
tion, and called Paul saying, " Who art thou, and
what dost thou teach? for they bring no small ac-
cusation against thee."
17. And Paul, lifting up his voice, said, " If I
to-day must tell any of my teachings, then listen, O
proconsul : the living God, the God of vengeance,
[the jealous God],^"* the God who has need of noth-
ing, who seeks the salvation of men, has sent me that
I may reclaim them from corruption and uncleanness
and from all pleasure, and from death, that they
may sin no more. On this account God sent his
23 Not in the Coptic.
2* Not in the Coptic ; omitted also in the Syriac and in
some MSS.
ACTS OF PAUL 21
Son, whose gospel I preach and teach, that in him
men have hope ; who alone has had compassion upon
a world led astray, that men may be no longer un-
der judgment, but may have faith and fear of God
and knowledge of honesty and love of truth. If,
therefore, I teach what has been revealed to me by
God, what wrong am I doing, O proconsul?"
When the proconsul heard this, he ordered Paul to
be bound and sent to prison, until he had time to
hear him more attentively,
1 8. And Thecla, by night, took off her bracelet
and gave it to the gatekeeper; and the door being
opened to her, she went into the prison. To the
jailer she gave a silver mirror, and was thus enabled
to go in beside Paul, and sitting at his feet, she
heard the great deeds of God. And Paul was
afraid of nothing, but trusted in God. And her
faith also increased and she kissed his bonds.
19. And when Thecla was missed by her friends
and Thamyris, they were running up and down the
streets, as if she had been lost, and one of the gate-
keeper's fellow-slaves informed them that she had
gone out by night. And they examined the gate-
keeper, who said to them, " She has gone to the
foreigner into the prison." And having gone,
they found her, as it were, enchained by affection.
And having gone forth thence, they incited the peo-
ple, and informed the governor what had happened.
20. And he ordered Paul to be brought before
the tribunal ; but Thecla was wallowing on the place
where Paul had sat whilst in prison. And the Gov-
22 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ernor ordered her also to be brought to [the trib-
unal], and she came with an exceedingly great joy.
And when Paul had been led forth, the crowd vehe-
mently cried out, " He is a sorcerer, away with
him! 2^ But the proconsul gladly heard Paul upon
the holy works of Christ.^^ And having called a
council he summoned Thecla and said, " Why dost
thou not marry Thamyris, according to the law of
the Iconians ? " But she stood looking earnestly at
Paul. And when she gave no answer, Theoclia,
her mother, cried out saying: "Burn the wicked
one; burn her in the midst of the theatre who will
not marry, that all the women that have been taught
by this man- may be afraid."
21. And the proconsul was greatly moved; and
having scourged Paul, he cast him out of the city.
But Thecla he condemned to be burned. And im-
mediately the governor arose and went away to the
theatre. And the whole multitude went out to wit-
ness the spectacle. But as a lamb in the wilderness
looks around for the shepherd, so Thecla kept
searching for Paul. And having looked upon the
crowd, she saw the Lord sitting in the likeness of
Paul, and said, " As if I were unable to endure, Paul
has come to look after me." And she gazed upon
him with great earnestness, but he went up into
heaven.
22. And the boys and girls brought wood and
straw, in order that Thecla might be burned. And
25 Luke XXHL i8.
-8 The Coptic : upon his holy works.
ACTS OF PAUL 23
when she came in naked, the governor wept and ad-
mired the power that was in her. And the exe-
cutioners arranged the wood and told her to go up
on the pile. And she, having made the sign of the
cross, went up on the pile. And they lighted the
fire. And though a great fire was blazing, it did
not touch her. For God, having compassion upon
her, made an underground rumbling and a cloud
full of water and hail overshadowed (the theater)
from above, and all that was in the cavity of it was
poured out, so that many <of the lookers-on >
were in danger of death. And the fire was put out
and Thecla saved.
23. And Paul was fasting with Onesiphorus and
his wife, and his children, in a new tomb, on the way
which led from Iconium to Daphne. And when
many days were past in fasting, the children said to
Paul : " We are hungry." And they had nothing
to buy bread, for Onesiphorus had left the things
of this world, and followed Paul, with all his house.
And Paul, having taken off his cloak, said, " Go,
my child, sell this and buy some loaves and bring
them." And when the child was buying he saw
Thecla their neighbor, and was astonished and said,
" Thecla, whither art thou going? " And she said,
" I have been saved from the fire, and am following
Paul." And the child said, " Come, I shall take
thee to him ; for he is distressed about thee and
prays and is fasting already six days."
24. And when she had come to the tomb, where
Paul was kneeling and praying, " Father of
24 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
<Jesus>^^ Christ, let not the fire touch Thecla,
but stand by her, for she is thine " ; she, standing
behind him, cried out, " O Father, who hast made
the heaven and the earth, Thou the Father of thy
beloved Son Jesus Christ ^^ I praise thee that thou
hast saved me from the fire,^^ that I may see Paul
again." ^^ And Paul rising up, saw her, and said,
" O God, that knowest the heart, Father of [our
Lord] ^^ Jesus Christ; I praise thee, that thou hast
speedily heard my prayer."
25. And there was great love in the tomb, for
Paul and Onesiphorus and the others all rejoiced.
And they had five loaves, and herbs, and water, and
they rejoiced in the holy works of Christ. And
Thecla said to Paul, " I will cut my hair off, and I
shall follow thee whithersoever thou goest." But
he said, " Times are evil, and thou art beautiful.
I am afraid lest another temptation come upon thee
worse than the first, and that thou withstand it not,
but become mad after men." And Thecla said,
" Only give me the seal in Christ, and no temptation
shall touch me." And Paul said, " Thecla, be pa-
tient, thou shalt receive the water [baptism]." ^^
26. And Paul sent away Onesiphorus and all
his house to Iconium ; and having taken Thecla, went
into Antioch. And as soon as they had arrived a
2'' So the Coptic.
28 The Coptic: Father of thy holy Son.
29 " From the Fire " omitted by the Coptic ; Latin, Syriac.
30 So the Coptic.
31 Omitted in the Coptic.
32 So the Coptic.
ACTS OF PAUL 2$
certain Syrian, Alexander by name, an influential
citizen of Antioch, seeing Thecla, became enam-
oured of her, and tried to gain over Paul by gifts
and presents. But Paul said, " I know not the
woman of which thou speakest, nor is she mine."
But he, being of great power, openly embraced
her in the street. But she would not endure
it, but looked about for Paul. And she cried out
bitterly, saying, " Do not force the stranger ; do not
force the maiden of God. I am one of the chief
persons of the Iconians, and because I would not
marry Thamyris I have been cast out of the city."
And taking hold of Alexander, she tore his cloak,
and pulled off his crown, and made him a laughing-
stock.
2y. And he, on the one hand loving her, and on
the other ashamed of what had happened, led her
before the proconsul; and as she confessed that she
had done these things, he condemned her to the wild
beasts < Alexander arranging the games >.^^ The
women of the city cried out beside the tribunal,
"Evil judgment! impious judgment!" And
Thecla^* asked the proconsul to be let alone until
she shall fight with the wild beasts. And a rich
woman [of royal descent] ^' named Tryphaena,
whose daughter ^^ was dead, took her into keeping
and had her for a consolation.
83 Not in the Greek, but in the Coptic.
3* Coptic: She.
35 Not in the Coptic.
36 Some MSS. " whose daughter, named Falconilla."
26 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
28. And when the beasts were exhibited, they
bound her to a fierce Honess, and Queen Tryphjena
followed her. And the lioness, with Thecla sitting
upon her, licked her feet ; and all the multitude was
astonished. And the charge on her inscription w-as
" Sacrilegious." And the women and children
cried out again and again,^'^ " O God,^^ outrageous
things take place in this city." And after the ex-
hibition Tryphsena received her again. For her dead
daughter had said to her in a dream, " Mother, re-
ceive this stranger, the forsaken Thecla in my place,
that she may pray for me and I come to the place
of the just."
29. And when after the exhibition, Tryphsena
had received her, she was grieved on the one hand
because she had to fight on the following day with
the wild beasts, on the other hand she < grieved >
very much over her daughter Falconilla, and said :
" Thecla, my second child, come, pray for my child,
that she may live [in eternity] ; ^^ for this I saw
in my sleep." And without hesitation she lifted up
her voice, and said, " My God, thou Son of the Most
High, who art in heaven •**' grant her wish that her
daughter Falconilla may live in eternity." And
when Thecla had thus spoken, Tryphaena grieved
very much, considering that such beauty is to be
thrown to the wild beasts.
37 " Again and again " not in the Coptic.
38 Not in the Coptic.
39 Not in the Coptic.
•'^ Coptic : O God of heavens, Son of the Most High.
ACTS OF PAUL 27
30. And when it was dawn Alexander came to
her, for it was he who arranged the exhibition of
wild beasts — and said, " The proconsul has taken
his seat, and the crowd is clamoring; get ready, I
will take her that is to fight with the wild beasts."
And Tryphsena cried aloud, so that he even fled,
saying ; " A second mourning for my Falconilla has
come upon my house, and there is no one to help ;
neither child, for she is dead, nor kinsman, for I
am a widow. God of Thecla, my child, help
Thecla."
31. And the proconsul sent soldiers to bring
Thecla. Tryphasna departed not from her, but took
her by the hand and led her away, saying, " My
daughter Falconilla I took away to the tomb; but
thee, Thecla, I take to the wild-beast fight." And
Thecla wept bitterly, and sighed to the Lord, " O
Lord God, in whom I trust, to whom I have fled
for refuge, who didst deliver me from the fire, re-
ward Tryphsena, who has had compassion on thy
servant, and because she kept me pure."
32. And there arose a tumult : the wild beasts
howled, the people and the women, sitting near by
crying, the one saying, " Away with the sacrilegious
person ! " The others saying, " O that the city
would be destroyed on account of this iniquity!
Kill us all, proconsul ; miserable spectacle, awful
judgment ! "
33. And Thecla having been taken from the
hands of Tryphsena, was stripped, and received an
apron and was thrown into the arena. And lions
28 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
and bears were let loose upon her. And a fierce
lioness having run up to her feet, lay down. But
the multitude of the women cried aloud. And a
bear ran upon her; but the lioness went to meet it
and tore the bear to pieces. And again a lion that
had been trained against men, which belonged to
Alexander, ran upon her. And the lioness, encoun-
tering the lion, was killed along with him. And the
women cried the more, since also the lioness, her
protector, was dead.
34. Then they send in many beasts, she stand-
ing and stretching forth her hands, and praying.
And when she had finished her prayer, she turned
around and saw a large ditch full of water, and
said, " Now it is time to wash myself." And she
threw herself in, saying, " In the name of Jesus
Christ I baptize myself on my last day." When the
women saw ^^ it, and the multitude, they wept and
said, "Do not throw thyself into the water!" so
that also the governor shed tears, because the seals
were to devour such beauty. She then threw her-
self into the water in the name of Jesus Christ ; but
the seals having seen the glare of lightning, floated
about dead. And there was round her a cloud of
fire, so that the beasts could neither touch her, nor
could she be seen naked.
35. But the women lamented, when other more
fierce animals were let loose, and some threw green
herbs, others nard, others cassia, others amomum,
^1 Coptic : heard.
ACTS OF PAUL 29
SO that there was an abundance of perfumes. And
all the wild beasts were as hypnotized and touched
her not. And Alexander said to the proconsul, " I
have some terrible bulls, to which we will bind her
that is to fight with the beasts." And the proconsul
said in a sullen manner, " Do what thou wilt."
And they bound her by the feet between the bulls,
and put red-hot irons under their privy parts, so
that they, being rendered more furious, might kill
her. They rushed about, therefore; but the burn-
ing flame consumed the ropes, and she was as if
she had not been bound.
36. And Tryphsena fainted standing beside the
arena, so that the servants said, " Queen Tryphaena
is dead." And the proconsul put a stop to the
games, and the whole city was in dismay. And
Alexander fell down to the feet of the proconsul and
cried, " Have mercy upon me and upon the city, and
give the woman free, lest the city be also destroyed.
For if Caesar hear of these things, he will possibly
destroy the city also along with us, because his kins-
woman Tryphsena [the Queen], has died beside the
circus gate."
37. And the proconsul summoned Thecla out of
the midst of the beasts, and said to her, " Who art
thou? and what is there about thee, that no one of
the wild beasts touch thee ? " She answered, " I
am a servant of the living God ; and as to what there
is about me, I have believed in the Son of God, in
whom he is well pleased, wherefore not one of the
beasts has touched me. For he alone is the goal of
30 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
salvation, and the basis of immortal ^^ life. For
he is a refuge to the tempest-tossed, a solace to the
afflicted, a shelter to the despairing; in a word:
whosoever believes not in him shall not live, but be
dead forever."
38. When the proconsul heard these things he
ordered garments to be brought, and to be put on.
And she said, " He that clothed me when I was
naked among the beasts, will in the day of judgment
clothe me with salvation." And taking the gar-
ments, she put them on.
And the proconsul immediately issued an edict,
saying, " I release to you the God-fearing Thecla,
the servant of God." And the women shouted
aloud, and with one mouth praised God: " (There
is) one God; who saved Thecla" — so that the
whole city was shaken by their voices.
39. And Tryphaena having received the good
news, went with the multitude to meet Thecla.
Having embraced her, she said, " Now I believe that
the dead are raised! Now I believe that my child
lives; come within,^^ and all that is mine I shall
assign to thee." And Thecla went in along with
her, and rested eight days, instructing her in the
word of God, so that even some of the maidservants
believed. And there was great joy in the house.
40. And Thecla kept seeking Paul. And she
was told that he was in Myra. And taking young
men and maidens, she girded herself; and having
42 Coptic : eternal.
*8The Coptic: come within, my daughter, Thecla.
ACTS OF PAUL 31
sewed the tunic so as to make a man's cloak, she
came to Myra, where she found Paul speaking the
word of God. And he was astonished at seeing her
and her companions, thinking that some new trial
was coming upon her. And perceiving this, she
said to him, " I have received baptism, O Paul ; for
He who wrought along with thee for the gospel has
wrought in me also for baptism."
41. And Paul, taking her, led her to the house
of Hermias and heard everything from her, so that
Paul greatly wondered and those who heard were
strengthened and prayed for Tryphsena. And
Thecia rose up and said to Paul, " I am going to
Iconium." Paul answered, " Go, and teach the
word of God." And Tryphsena sent her much
clothing and gold, so that she could leave many
things to Paul for the service of the poor.
42. And having come to Iconium, she went into
the house of Onesiphorus, and fell upon the place
where Paul used to sit and taught the word of God
and she cried and said, " My God ^* and God of this
house, where the light did shine upon me, Jesus
Christ,'*^ Son of God, my help in prison, my help
before the proconsuls, my help in the fire, my help
among the wild beasts, thou alone art God, and to
thee be glory for ever. Amen."
43. And she found Thamyris dead, but her
mother alive. And calling her mother, she said,
" Theoclia, my mother, canst thou believe that the
** Coptic : Our God.
"Coptic: O Christ.
32 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Lord liveth in heaven? For whether thou desirest
wealth, the Lord will give it to thee through me ; or
thy child, behold, I am standing beside thee."
And having thus testified, she went to Seleucia
and enlightened many by the word of God ; then she
rested in a glorious sleep.
Note. — In some MSS. we read after Seleucia "and dwelt
in a cave seventy-two years, living upon herbs and water.
And she enlightened many by the word of God. And cer-
tain men of the city, being Greeks by religion, and physi-
cians by profession, sent to her insolent young men to de-
stroy (or corrupt) her. For they said: She is a virgin,
and serves Artemis, and from this she has virtue in healing.
And by the providence of God she entered into the rock
alive, and went under ground. And she departed to Rome,
to see Paul, and found that he had fallen asleep. And
after staying there no long time, she rested in a glorious
sleep ; and she is buried about two or three stadia from
the tomb of her master Paul.
" She was cast, then, into the fire when seventeen years
old, and among the wild beasts when eighteen. And she
was an ascetic in the cave, as has been said, seventy-two
years, so that all the years of her life were ninety. And
having accomplished many cures, she rests in the place of
the saints, having fallen asleep on the twenty-fourth of
the month of September in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom
be glory and strength for ever and ever. Amen."
In a more expanded form the end of Thecla is thus de-
scribed in Grabe's text as given by Lipsius, 1. c. p. 271 ff. :
" And a cloud of light guided her. And having come into
Seleucia, she went forth outside of the city one stadium.
And she was afraid of them also, for they worshipped
idols. And it guided her to the mountain called Calaman
or Rhodeon ; and having found there a cave, she went into
it. And she was there many years, and underwent many
and grievous trials by the devil, and bore them nobly, being
assisted by Christ. And some of the well-born women,
having learned about the virgin Thecla, went to her, and
ACTS OF PAUL 33
learned the miracles of God. And many of them bade adieu
to the world, and lived an ascetic life with her. And a
good report was spread everywhere concerning her, and
cures were done by her. All the city, therefore, and coun-
try round, having known this, brought their sick to the
mountain; and before they came near the door they were
speedily released from whatever disease they were afflicted
by; and the unclean spirits went out shrieking, and all re-
ceived their own in health, glorifying God, who had given
such grace to the virgin Thecla. The physicians, there-
fore, of the city of Seleucia were thought nothing of, having
lost their trade, and no one any longer had regard to them.
Being filled with envy and hatred they plotted against the
servant of Christ, what they should do to her. The devil
then suggested to them a wicked device; and one day being
assembled, and having taken counsel, they consult with each
other, saying : this holy virgin has influence upon the great
goddess Artemis; and if she ask anything of her, she hears
her being a virgin herself, and all the gods love her. Come,
then, let us take men of disorderly lives, and make them
drunk with much wine, and let us give them much money,
and say to them, If you can corrupt and defile her, we shall
give you even more money. The physicians therefore said
to themselves, that if they should be able to defile her,
neither the gods nor Artemis would listen to her in the case
of the sick. They therefore acted accordingly, and the
wicked fellows went up to the mountain, and rushed upon
the cave like lions and knocked at the door. And the holy
martyr Thecla opened, emboldened by the God in whom she
trusted; for she knew of their plot beforehand. And she
said to them : ' What do you want my children ? ' And they
said: 'Is there one here called Thecla?' And she said:
' What do you want with her ? ' They say to her : ' We want
to sleep with her.' The blessed Thecla says to them : ' I
am a poor old woman, a servant of my Lord Jesus Christ ;
and even though you want to do something unseemly to me,
you cannot.' They say to her : ' By all means, shall we do
to thee what we want.' And having said this, they laid fast
hold of her, and wished to insult her. But she said to
them with mildness : ' Wait my children, that you may see
34 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the glory of the Lord.' And being laid hold of by them, she
looked up into heaven, and said : * God, terrible and incom-
parable, and glorious to Thine adversaries, who didst deliver
me out of the fire, who didst not give me up to Thamyris,
who didst not give me up to Alexander, who didst deliver
me from the wild beasts, who didst save me in the abyss,
who hast everywhere worked with me, and glorified Thy
name in me, now also deliver me from these lawless men,
and let them not insult my virginity, which for Thy name's
sake I have preserved till now, because I love Thee, and
desire Thee, and adore Thee, the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Ghost for ever. Amen.' And there came a voice
out of the heaven, saying : ' Fear not, Thecla, my true servant,
for I am with thee. Look and see where an opening has
been made before thee, for there shall be for thee an ever-
lasting house, and there shalt thou obtain shelter.' And
looking up around, the blessed Thecla saw the rock opened
as far as to allow a man to enter, and she did according
to what had been said to her, and courageously fleeing from
the lawless ones entered into the rock; and the rock was
straightway shut together, so that not even a joining ap-
peared. And they, beholding the extraordinary wonder, be-
came as it were distracted ; and they were not able to detain
the servant of God, but only caught hold of her dress, and
were able to tear off a certain part ; and that by the per-
mission of God for the faith of those seeing the venerable
place, and for a blessing in the generations afterwards to
those that believe in our Lord Jesus Christ out of a pure
heart.
" Thus, then suffered the first martyr of God, and apos-
tle, and virgin, Thecla, who came from Iconium when
eighteen years of age. With her journeying, and the going
round, and the retirement in the mountain she lived yet
seventy-two years more. And when the Lord took her, she
was ninety years old. And thus is her consummation. And
her holy commemoration is celebrated on the twenty-fourth
of the month of September, to the glory of the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages
of ages. Amen."
ACTS OF PAUL 35
B. Paul's Correspondence With the Corin-
thians.
The discovery of the Acta Pauli in the Coptic has fully
confirmed the view expressed by La Croze and Zahn, that
the apocryphal correspondence with the Corinthians orig-
inally formed a part of the Acta Pauli, together with the
Acta Theclae and the "martyrium" of Paul.
Zahn, Geschichte des neutest. Kanons, H, p. 592 ff., 606 ff.
Harnack, Geschichte dor altchvistlichcn Litcratur, 1, 37 ff. ;
n, I p. 493 ff., 506 ff.
Vetter, " Der apokryphe dritte Korintherbrief " (in Thcol.
Quartalschrift, 1890, 610-639).
" Der apokryphe dritte Korintherbrief " (in Literarische
Rundschau, 1892, 193-198), and under the same title,
Tubingen, 1894, 13-17-
" Eine rabbinische Quelle des apokryphen dritten Korinther-
brief es " (in Theologische Quartalschrift, 1895, 622-
Berger-Carriere, " La correspondence apocryphe de S. Paul
et des Corinthiens " (in Revue de theol. et de philos.,
XXIII (1891); see Harnack in Theologische Liter-
aturzeitiing, 1892, 2-9; Zahn in Theolog. Literaturhlatt,
1892, 185-187.
Bratke, "Ein zweiter lateinischer Text des apokryphen
Briefwechsels zwischen dem Apostel Paulus und den
Korinthern" (in Theolog. Literaturzeitung, 1892, 585-
588).
Muretow, "Ueber den apokryphen Brief wechsel des Apostels
Paulus mit den Korinthern" (in Theolog. Bote, 1896,
July-August).
Berendts, " Zur Christlogie des apokryphen, 3. Korinther-
briefes" (in Abhandliingcn Alexander von Oettingen
gewidmet), Munich 1898, 1-28.
Ehrhard, Die altchristliche Literatur, 1900, 119 f.
Bardenhewer, Geschichte der altkirchlichen Literatur, 1902,
Vol. I, 463 f.
Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 1904, 357 ff-
36 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Hennecke, Handbuch cu den neutest. Apokryphen, 1904, 358
ff., 388 ff.
Schmidt, Acta Pauli, 1904, y2> ff-
Harnack, " Untersuchungen ueber den apokryphen Brief-
wechsel der Korinther mit dem Apostel Paulus " (in
Sitzungsberichte der Preussischen Akademie der Wis-
senschaften, January 12, 1905).
Harnack, "Die apokryphen Briefe des Paulus an die Laodi-
cener und Korinther" (in Kleine Texte fuer theolo-
gische Vorlesungen und Uebungen, ed. Lietzmann, part
12, Bonn, 1905).
Zahn, Einleitung in des Neue Testament, 3d ed. Vol. I (1906),
pp. 178, 193, 380, 386.
Leipoldt, Geschichte des neutestamentlichen Kanons, I (1907),
213 ff.
Bardenhewer, Patrology, p. 11 1 ff .
De Bruyne, " Une nouveau manuscript de la 3, lettre de
S. Paule aux Corinthiens " in Revue Benedictine, 25
Annee (1908), no. 4.
In 1823 Prof. Rinck published at Heidelberg : das Send-
schreiben der Korinther an den Apostel Paulus und das
dritte Sendschreiben Pauli an die Korinther, for which he
perused eight manuscripts. His researches made it clear
that the correspondence in the Armenian Bible-manuscripts
belonged to the body of the Pauline epistles, i.e., was orig-
inally counted in the Armenian Church as belonging to the
biblical canon, because it stood as third epistle to the Corin-
thians after the second epistle to the Corinthians and before
that to the Galatians. From other indications, Rinck also
inferred that the reception of the third Corinthian into the
Canon belonged to a time when the Armenian version of
the Bible was made and that this was due probably to the
influence of the Syriac Bible, in which the epistle must have
occupied the same position. In the commentary of Ephrasm
Syrus 1 on the Pauline epistles, the third Corinthian is
'^ Opera Ephrcemi, III, p. 116 ff. Venice, 1836; German
translation in Zahn, Kanon, II, 2,595 ff.
Vetter, Theolog. Quartalschrift, 1890, p. 627 ff.
ACTS OF PAUL 37
treated like the other letters of Paul and in the same order
which it has in the Armenian Bible manuscripts. And the
same Ephrsem in his commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron,^
quotes the sth verse in Paul's answer as a genuine word
of Paul, and before Ephrsem his countryman Aphraates be-
sides the fifth quoted also the tenth. s Besides in the Ar-
menian, the third epistle to the Corinthians has also been
discovered in two Latin MSS., one probably belonging to
the loth cent, and the other to the 13th. In the former
the third Corinthian stands after the epistle to the Hebrews,
and has the heading : " incipiunt scripta Corinthiorum ad
apostolum Paulum " and " incipit resciptum Pauli apostoli ad
Corinthios " ; the inscription reads : " explicit epistula ad
Corinthios tertia." Then follows the so-called letter to the
Laodiceans. In the 13th cent. MS. the Corinthian corre-
spondence stands at the end with the following headings :
" Petitio Corinthiorum a Paulo apostolo " and " Epistola
tertia ad Corinthios quae authentica non est." At the end
the copyist added : " hanc repperi ego in veteri quodam
libro, qu [ae] tertia ad Corinthios inscribitur, quamv [is in
ca] none non habeatur." Schmidt thinks that the third epis-
tle existed not only in the Syriac version, but also in
Greek Bibles which were in use among Greek-speaking con-
gregations in Syria and Palestine. The Greek no doubt
formed the basis of the Latin, and since the correspondence
as is now proven, formed a part of the Acts of Paul, we
can very well understand the existence of Latin versions of
the Acts.
The Coptic version, though fragmentary, is an important
witness and is a proof that the original text is preserved
the purest in the 13th century Latin MS. of Laon found
by E. Bratke. This IMS. is unhappily also deficient; but
with the help of the other Latin MS. edited by Berger-
Carriere, the Armenian of Rink, and Ephrsem's commentary
(ed. Kanajanz-Hiibschmann), a translation is made possible.
In the Coptic the correspondence is thus prefaced : " The
Corinthians were in great distress on account of Paul, that
2 Mosinger, Evangelii concordantis expositio, 1876, p. 16.
3 See Homilien des Aphraates, iibersetzt von Bert (Texte
und Untersuchungen, III, p. 389, hom. 23, p. 105).
38 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
he would die before his time. For men, Simon and Cleobius,
had come to Corinth who said : * there is no resurrection
of the flesh, but of the spirit, and that the body of man is
not created by God nor the world, that God does not know
the world, nor has Jesus Christ been crucified, but only
in appearance, and that he was not born of Mary nor of
the seed of David.' In a word, they proclaimed (?) many
things in Corinth, deceiving [many others and deceiving]
themselves. When therefore the Corinthians heard that Paul
was at Philippi, they sent a letter to Paul to Macedonia by
the hand of Threptus and Eutychus, the deacons. The letter
however was of this nature."
[a. letter of the CORINTHIANS TO THE APOSTLE PAUL.]
I
I. Stephanus and his fellow-presbyters Daphnus and Eu-
bulus and Theophilus and Zeno to Paul, the brother in the
Lord — greeting!
2. Two individuals have come to Corinth, named Simon
and Cleobius, who overthrow the faith of some through
pernicious words.
3. These examine yourself.
4. For we never heard such things, neither from you, nor
from the other apostles.
5. But we keep what we have received from thee and
from the others.
6. Since the Lord has shown us mercy, that while you
are still in the flesh we should hear this * from you once
more.
7. Come to us.^
8. For we believe as it has been revealed to Thence that
the Lord has delivered thee from the hands of the godless.
9. What they say and teach is as follows :
10. They assert that one must not appeal to the prophets,
11. And that God is not almighty,
12. There is no resurrection of the body,
13. Man has not been made by God,
* This : not in the Coptic.
• Some authorities : come to us or write to us.
ACTS OF PAUL 39
14. Christ ^ has neither come in the flesh, nor was he
born of Mary "^
15. And the world is not the work of God, but of angels.
16. Wherefore, we beseech thee, brother, do thy diligence
to come to us, that the Corinthian church ^ remain without
stumbling, and the foolishness of those be confounded.
Farewell in the Lord!
II
1. The deacons Threptus and Eutychus took the letter
to Fhilippi,
2. So that Paul received it, being himself in prison be-
cause of Stratonike, the wife of Apollophanes ; and he be-
came very sad ^
3. And exclaimed saying : " it had been better, had I
died and were with the Lord than to abide in the flesh and
to hear . . . such words ... so that sorrow
comes upon sorrow.
4. " And to be in prison in the face of such great distress
and behold such mischief where the wiles of Satan are busy ! "
5. And under much affliction Paul wrote the answer to
the letter.io
[b. Paul's epistle to the Corinthians.]
1. Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, to the brethren at
Corinth — greeting.
2. Being in many afflictions, I marvel not, that the teach-
ings of the evil one had such rapid success.
3. For my Lord Jesus Christ will hasten his coming, since
he can no longer tolerate the wrong of those who falsify
his teaching.
4. For I delivered unto you first of all what I received 11
6 In the Coptic : the Lord.
7 Some authorities read : of the Virgin Mary.
8 Some authorities : the city of the Corinthians.
8 The Coptic is here defective. I followed Harnack's
Greek text. Some authorities like the Armenian and Ephraem
read here : so sad that he forgot his bonds and became sorry
because of the words which he heard.
^° Vs. 3-5 is greatly amplified. The Coptic is defective.
11 One authority : from the Lord and the apostles before
,me.
40 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
from the apostles before me, who were always with Jesus
Christ,i2
5. That our Lord Jesus Christ was born of Mary i3 of
the seed of David,^* the Father having sent the spirit from
heaven into her,
6. That he come into this world and save all flesh by
his own flesh and that he raise us in the flesh from the
dead, as he has presented himself to us as its type.
7. And that man is created by his Father,
8. Wherefore, also, when being lost, he was sought by
him, to become alive by the adoption of sons.
9. For the almighty God,i^ maker of heaven and earth,
first sent the prophets to the Jews to deliver them from
their sins.
10. For he wished to save the house of Israel; therefore
he took from the spirit of Christ and poured it out upon
the prophets, who proclaimed the true worship i" at many
times.
11. For the wicked prince, who would be God himself,
laid his hands on them and killed them and bound all flesh
of man through the lust.^"
12. But the almighty God, being just, and not wishing to
cast off his creature,!^ had mercy.
13. And sent his Spirit into Mary i"
14. Who believed with all her heart and conceived by
the Holy Ghost, that Jesus could come into the world,20
15. That the evil one [fettered] by the same flesh, by
which he wrought, be convinced.^i
12 Some : with our Lord Jesus Christ.
18 Armenian : of the Virgin Mary.
1* One authority: David after the flesh. Ephrsem and
Armenian read: David, according to the promises of the
Holy Spirit.
1' In the Armenian : God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1^ Ephraem and Armenian : worship and the birth of Christ.
1^ One authority : lust to his will, and the consummation
of the world hastened the judgment.
18 Six lines are here wanting in the Coptic.
1^ Some authorities add : in Galilee.
2" Harnack considers this clause as a later addition and
omits it.
21 Some authorities read : convinced, that he is not God.
ACTS OF PAUL 4I
16. For by his own body Jesus Christ saved all flesh,**
17. Presenting in his own body a templets of righteous-
ness,
18. Through which we are saved.
19. Know therefore that they who follow them are not
children of righteousness, but of wrath, who despise the
wisdom of God, and, not believing, assert that heaven and
earth, and all that is in them, are not a work of God.^*
20. [They are therefore children of wrath] 25 they have
the accursed belief of the serpent ;
21. These remove from you, 26 and keep aloof from their
teaching.
22. [For you are not children of disobedience, but children
of the beloved Church.
23. On this account the time of the resurrection has been
preached by all.]^^
24. And they who say 28 that there is no resurrection
of the flesh, shall have no resurrection,
25. For they believe not that the Dead had thus risen.
26. For they know not, O Corinthians, the seed of wheat
or some other grain 29 that it is cast barely into the ground,
and which having been dissolved rises up again after the
will of God in the same body and clothed.
27. And he dissolves not only the body which is sown,
but blesses it manifold.
28. And if one will not take the parable of the seed
grains [but from nobler bodies] ^^
29. Let him look at Jonah, the son of Amittai, who, be-
22 Armenian reads : flesh, and through faith brought it to
everlasting life.
23 Armenian and Ephraem : holy temple.
2* Armenian and Ephrsem : the work of God, the Father
of the universe.
25 So one authority, but not in the Coptic and Harnack._
28 Harnack's reading " from us " is probably only a mis-
print of a letter.
27 These two verses are not in the Coptic, are omitted also
by Harnack; they are found in the Armenian.
28 Coptic : say to you.
29 The Coptic breaks here off.
8° So the Armenian.
42 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
come unwilling to preach unto the Ninevites, is swallowed
up by the whale.
30. And after three days and three nights God heard the
prayer of Jonah out of the deepest hell, and nothing is
injured in him, neither the hair nor the eyelid.
31. How much more will he raise you up, who have be-
lieved ^i in Christ Jesus,^^ as he himself was raised up.
32. And when by the bones of the prophet Elisha, one
of the children of Israel that had been thrown upon them,
rose from death in his body, how much more shall ye rise
up on that day with a whole body, after ye have been thrown
upon the body and bones and Spirit of Christ.
33. [Also Elijah, the prophet; took the son of the widow
into his arms, and raised him from the dead ; how much
more shall Jesus Christ raise you up also on that day with
a whole body, as he rose himself from the dead.j^s
34. If, however, you receive something else,^* let no man
trouble me.^s
35. For I have these bonds on me, that I may win Christ,
and I bear his marks, that I may attain unto the resurrection
of the dead.
36. And whoever accepts this rule which we have received
by the blessed prophets and the holy gospel, shall receive ^s
a reward,37
37. But whosoever deviates from this, fire shall be for
him and for those who preceded him therein.
38. Who are a generation of vipers,38
39. These resist in the power of the Lord,
40. And with you shall be peace.^^
31 One authority : raise you up, ye of little faith, and
those who have believed.
32 Armenian : in the Lord Jesus Christ.
33 So the Armenian.
34 One authority adds : God shall rise up against you as
a witness.
35 Armenian and Ephrsem add : in future.
36 Armenian and Ephrsem : receive at the resurrection of
the dead.
3'^ Ephrsem : reward for it and for his works.
38 Armenian and Ephrsm : vipers and basilisks.
39 The Armenian : and the grace of the beloved First-born.
ACTS OF PAUL 43
C. The Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle
Paul.
Under this title Lipsius published for the first time (Acta
Apocrypha, I, 102-117) the Greek text according to an Athos
and Patmos manuscript, together with a Latin translation
according to three Alunich manuscripts. The Coptic
(Schmidt, Acta, p. 83-90) is in rather a bad state, only a
part is preserved.
I. Luke who had come from Gaul, and Titus
who had come from Dalmatia, expected Paul at
Rome. When Paul saw them, he rejoiced and
rented a barn outside of Rome, where he and the
brethren taught the word of truth. He became
famous, and many souls were added to the Lord, so
that it was noised about in Rome, and a great many
from the house of the emperor came to him, and
there was much joy.
A certain Patroclus, a cupbearer of the emperor,
who had come too late to the barn and could not
get near to Paul on account of the throng of the
people, sat on a high parapet, and listened how he
taught the word of God. As Satan, being bad, be-
came jealous of the love of the brethren, Patroclus
fell down from the parapet and died ; speedily it was
reported to Nero. Paul, however, having learned
it by the Spirit, said to his hearers, " Men, dear
brethren, the evil one has obtained room, that he
may tempt you; go forth and ye will find a boy
Amen. — Another authority reads : peace, grace and love.
Amen.
44 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
which had fallen down and is about dying. Lift
him up and bring him hither." This they did.
When the people saw him, they were frightened.
Paul said to them, " Now, dear brethren, show your
faith. Come, let us cry to our Lord Jesus Christ,
that the boy might live and we remain unmolested."
When all began to lament, the boy took breath ; and
having put him on a beast of burden, they sent him
away alive with all those which were of the em-
peror's house.
2. And Nero, having heard of Patroclus's death,
became very sad, and as he just came in from his
bath, he ordered another one to be appointed for the
wine. But his boys said, " Emperor, Patroclus is
alive, and stands at the sideboard." When the em-
peror heard that Patroclus was alive, he was fright-
ened and would not come in. But after having
come in, and seeing Patroclus, he cried out, " Patro-
clus, thou livest?" He answered, "(Yea,) I am
alive, Caesar." Who said, " Who is he that made
thee alive? " And the boy, being carried away by a
mind of faith, said, " Christ Jesus, the King of the
ages." The emperor asked in dismay, " Is he to be
King of the ages and destroy all kingdoms? " Says
Patroclus to him, " Yea, he destroys all kingdoms
under the heaven, and he alone shall remain in all
eternity, and there will be no kingdom which escapes
him." And he slapped his face, and cried out, " Pa-
troclus, thou also art fighting for that king? " He
answered, " Yes, my lord and Caesar, for he has
raised me from the dead."
ACTS OF PAUL 45
And Barrabas Justus the flat-footed, and Urion the
Cappadocian, and Festus of Galatia, the first men of
Nero, said, '* And we, too, fight for him, the King
of the world." After they were terribly tortured,
he had them imprisoned, whom he greatly loved, and
ordered that the soldiers of the great King be sought,
and issued an edict that all Christians and soldiers
of Christ that were found, should be executed.
3. And in the multitude Paul also was brought
in fetters. Those that were imprisoned with him
looked at him, so that the emperor knew that he was
the leader of the soldiers. And he said to him,
" Man of the great King, now my prisoner, what
induced thee to come secretly into the Roman empire
and to enlist soldiers in my territory?" But Paul,
filled with the Holy Spirit, said in the presence of
all, " Caesar, we enlist soldiers not only in your
territory, but in all lands of the earth. For thus we
are commanded to exclude none who wishes to fight
for my King. If it seemeth good to thee to serve
him <thou wilt not regret it. Moreover, think not
that> ^ riches or that which glitters in this life will
save thee; but if thou becomest his subject and ask
him, thou shalt be saved. For on one day he will
destroy the world."
Having heard this, Nero commanded to burn all
prisoners with fire, but to behead Paul in accordance
with the law of the Romans. And Paul was not
silent, but communicated the word to Longus the
1 Following the Latin.
46 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
prefect and Cestus the centurion. And Nero being
instigated by the evil one (raged) at Rome, and had
many Christians executed without being judged, so
that the Romans stood before the palace and cried,
"It is enough, Caesar; these men are ours; thou
destroy est the strength of the Romans," Being thus
convinced, he desisted < having issued an edict >
not to touch any Christian till his case had been in-
vestigated.^
4. After the issuing of the edict, Paul was
brought before him, and he insisted that he should
be executed. And Paul said, " Caesar, I live not
merely for a short time unto my King; and if thou
have me executed, I shall do the following : I will
rise again and appear unto thee, for I am not dead,
but live unto my King Christ Jesus, who shall come
to judge the earth."
And Longus and Cestus said to Paul, " Whence
have you this King that you believe on him, without
changing your mind unto death ? " And Paul an-
swered and said, " Ye men, being ignorant and in
error, change your mind and be saved from the fire
which comes over the whole earth. For we fie:ht
not, as you suppose, for a King who is from the
earth, but who is from heaven for the living God,
who comes as judge because of the righteousness,
which takes place in this world. And blessed is he
who will believe on him and live in eternity when
he shall come with fire to purge the earth." And
2 Here endeth the Latin.
ACTS OF PAUL 47
they besought him and said, " We pray thee, help us
and we will release thee." But he answered <with
a smiling face> 3 " j ^m not a deserter of Christ,
but a faithful soldier of the living God. If I knew
that I should die, I would do it, Longus and Cestus ;
but since I live to God and love myself, I go to the
Lord that I may come (again) with him in the glory
of his Father." And they said unto him, " How
can we live after thou hast been beheaded? "
5. And while they were speaking Nero sent a
certain Parthenius and Pheretas to see whether Paul
had already been beheaded. And they found him
still alive. He summoned them beside him and
said : " Believe in the living God, who will raise
me, as well as all those that believe on him, from
the dead." But they said, " We will now go to
Nero, but when you have died and have been raised
up, we will believe in thy God."
But when Longus and Cestus continued to ask ^
about their salvation, he said to them, " In the early
dawn come quickly to my grave, and you will find
two men at prayer, Titus and Luke; they will give
you the seal in the Lord." ^
And turning toward the east, Paul lifted up his
hands to heaven and prayed much ; and after having
conversed in Hebrew with the fathers during prayer,
he bent his neck, without speaking any more. When
the lictor cut off his head, milk splashed on the dress
3 So Codex Athos.
* Coptic : asked.
^ Coptic : omits : in the Lord.
48 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
of the soldier. And the soldier, and all who stood
near by, were astonished at this sight and glorified
God, who had thus honored Paul. And they went
away and reported everything to Caesar.
6. When he heard (of it), he was much amazed,
not knowing what to say. While many philoso-
phers and the centurion were assembled with the
emperor, Paul came about the ninth hour, and in
the presence of all he said, " Csesar behold, here is
Paul, the soldier of God; I am not dead, but I live
in my God. But upon thee, thou miserable one,^
many evils and great punishments ° will come, be-
cause thou hast unjustly shed the blood of the right-
eous, not many days hence." And after having
spoken thus, Paul departed from him.'^ When Nero
had heard (this), he commanded that the prisoners
be released, Patroclus as well as Barsabas with his
friends.
7. And as Paul had told them, Longus and Ces-
tus the centurion, came very early to the grave of
Paul, trembling. And when they came near, they
found two men in prayer and Paul with them, so
that they became frightened when beholding the in-
credible miracle, whilst Titus and Luke, being afraid
at the sight of Longus and Cestus, turned to run
away.
But the persecutors said to them, " We persecute
you not in order to kill you, ye blessed men of God,
0 Coptic omits : thou miserable one and great punishments.
7 This clause omitted in the Coptic.
ACTS OF PAUL 49
as you suppose,*^ but in order to live, that ye may do
unto us ^ as Paul promised to us, whom we have
just seen in prayer beside you." Upon hearing this,
Titus and Luke ^^ gave them joyfully the seal in the
Lord, glorifying God and the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, to whom be honor for ever and ever.
Amen."
The Coptic has the statement : " the Acts of Paul accord-
ing to the Apostle," i.e. according to Paul himself. As the
fragment which thus concludes is the story of Paul's martyr-
dom, we have a parallel here to the conclusion of the Penta-
teuch with the story of Moses' death. Probably the good
people of the second century found no more difficulty in
attributing the account of his own death to St. Paul than
many devout Christians have in attributing Deut. XXXIV
to Moses. —
8 Coptic omits : ye . . . suppose.
^ Coptic : but that ye give unto us the life.
1° Coptic omits : Titus and Luke.
11 Coptic : glorifying the.
II
THE ACTS OF PETER.
LITERATURE
Lipsius, Apokryphe Apostelgcschichtcn, II, i (1887) 96 ff.,
174 ff. ; Supplement 1890, p. 98 f.
Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha, I (1891), i pp. XXXIII-
LV; 45-103.
Zahn, Geschichte des ncutest. Kanons, II, 2 (1892), 835-855.
Harnack, Geschichte der altchristlichcn Littcratur, II, i
(1897), 549-560.
Patristische Miscellen (in Texte und Untersuchungen,
new series, V, 3, 1900, p. 100-106).
Ehrhard, Die altchristliche Littcratur, 1900, 156 ff.
Hilgenfeld, "Die alten Actus Petri" (in Zeitschrift fiir
wissenschaftlichc Theologie, XI (1903).
Ficker, Die Petrusakten. Beitrdge su ihrem VerstHndnis,
1903. " Petrusakten " in Hennecke, N eutestamentliche
Apokryphen, 1904, 383 ff. ; in Handbuch su den neutes-
tamentlichen Apokryphen, 1904, 395 ff.
Schmidt, Die alten Petrusakten, 1903.
Leipoldt, Geschichte des neutestamentlichen Kanons, I (1907),
262 ff.
Flamion, " Les actes apocryphes de Pierre " (in Revue d'-
histoire ecclesiastique, Annee 9, No. 3, 15 Juillet, 1908).
Bardenhewer, Patrology, p. 98 ff.
Nissen, " Die Pertrusakten und ein Bardesanitisther Dialog
in der Aberkiosvita " (in Zeitschrift fuer die neutesta-
mentliche Wissenschaft, etc., IX (1908), parts 3 and 4.
Photius in his Bihliothcca (cod. 114) mentions the Acts
of Peter together with those of John, Andrew, Thomas and
Paul. What we now have of these Acts is contained in a
50
ACTS OF PETER 51
Latin seventh-century manuscript preserved at the Library
in VercelH, and published by Lipsius, i, pp. 5-i03- These
Acts are known as the Actus Vercellenses. A Coptic frag-
ment was discovered by C. Schmidt, which also contains
Acts of Peter. This fragment, together with a German
translation, he published under the title Die alien Petrusakten
im Zusammenhang der apokryphen Apostelliteratur, Leipzig,
1903. The deeds narrated in the Coptic take place, according
to Schmidt, at Jerusalem, those in the Actus Vercellenses at
Rome. Ficker thinks this possible, but not sufficiently es-
tablished. It is possible that that which is narrated in the
Coptic originally formed a part of a work which was called
"Acts of Peter," and it is also possible that the Coptic
narrative originally belonged to another work also called
" Acts of Peter," differing from the Actus Vercellenses,
which were intended to continue and supplement the canon-
ical Acts of the Apostles. Ancient writers seem to have
known the Acts of Peter which were used by certain com-
munities, which the church regarded as heretical (Eusebius,
His. eccles., Ill, 3, 2.) ^ Whether these Acts were the same
as the Actus Vercellenses cannot be said in view of the pres-
ent state of the latter.
As to the author of the Acts of Peter, opinions differ.
Zahn and James think that Leucius, the author of the Acts
of John, is also the author of the Acts of Peter. Says
James {Texts and Studies, V. i, p. XXIV fif) : "who-
ever wrote the Acts of John wrote the Acts of Peter." Not
so Schmidt. After examining all the testimony, he comes
to the conclusion that to Leucius belongs the honor of hav-
ing composed the first apostolic romance ; contrary to his
own expectation he paved the way for an entirely new old
Christian literary production, because his example was soon
followed by the author of the Acts of Paul, who was also
1 Nevertheless the Acts were read by orthodox Christians,
like Priscillian who recommends the reading of the Acts
of the Apostles, because they recommended the purity of
life. Priscillian's death was not because of heresy, but be-
cause of sorcery. Even his opponent Philastrius of Brescia
recommended the reading of these Acts. See Leipoldt, loc.
cit. p. 264; Schmidt, p. 43.
52 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS .
of Asia Minor. Standing on the shoulders of both, Pseudo-
Peter wrote this romance. This will explain many things,
especially the fact that Pseudo-Peter made use of the Acts
of John and Paul, probably also of other sources.
According to Schmidt the Acts of Peter were composed
between 200-210 A. D., at Jerusalem and Rome. Zahn pleads
for Asia Minor, which would account for the author's ignor-
ance of Roman affairs.
The Acts of Peter are valuable for our knowledge of the
Ancient Catholic Church. They bring before us the Chris-
tian Church in its religious thinking, feeling and working
at the end of the second century. Only a Catholic writer
could present such a picture.
We first give the Coptic fragment. We then give Peter's
affairs with Simon at Rome, or the Actus Vercellenses, which
begin with Paul's abode at Rome and his taking leave of the
congregation there (chaps. I-HI). The next section (chaps.
IV-XXXn) treats of Simon, the Magician, and the struggle
which Peter had with him. Simon is overcome and the
Roman congregation is re-established at Rome. The last sec-
tion (chaps. XXXIII-XLI) treats of Peter's death and its
causes.
With the exception of the martyrdom of Peter — which is
extant in the Greek original — the greater part of the Actus
Vercellenses is in Latin. This Latin text, which is found
in MS. CVIII, I of the chapter library at Vercelli, follows
after the Clementine Recognitions. The MS. belongs to the
seventh century, but was probably copied from an earlier
one, belonging, perhaps, to the fourth century.
I.
The Deed of Peter.
(P. 128).^ But on the first day of the week, i. e.,
on Sunday, a multitude gathered together, and they
2 This and the following numbers indicate the page in
the Coptic manuscript.
ACTS OF PETER S3
brought many sick people to Peter, that he might
cure them. And one of the multitude was bold
enough to say unto Peter, '' Peter, behold, before
our eyes thou didst make many blind see and deaf
hear and the lame walk, and hast helped the weak,
and given them strength; why hast thou not helped
thy \'irgin daughter, which grew up beautifully and
(p. 129) believed on the name of God? For behold,
one of her sides is wholly paralyzed, and there she is
helpless in the corner. One can see those which
thou hast cured ; but for thy own daughter thou didst
not care."
But Peter smiled and said to him, " My son, God
alone knows why her body is sick. Know that God
is not unable or powerless, to give his present to my
daughter. But that thy soul may be convinced and
those present believe the more" (p. 130) he looked
at his daughter and said to her, " Arise from thy
place with the help of none except Jesus alone, and
walk wholly before those present and come to me."
And she arose and came to him. The multitude re-
joiced over that which had taken place. And Peter
said to them : " Behold, your hearts are convinced
that God is not powerless concerning the things
which we ask of him." They rejoiced the more and
glorified God. Said (p. 131) Peter to his daughter,
" Return to thy place, sit down there, and be help-
less again, for it is good for me and thee." And the
girl did as she was bidden, and became as before.
The whole multitude wept and besought Peter to
make her whole.
54 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Peter said to them : " As the Lord hveth, this is
good for her and for me. For on the day on which
she was born to me, I saw a vision and the Lord
said to me, ' Peter, this day has been born unto thee
a great (p. 132) affliction, for this (i. e. daughter)
will hurt many souls, if her body remains well ! ' I,
however, thought that the vision was chaffing me.
" When the girl was ten years old, she became a
stumbling-block to many. And a very rich man,
Ptolemy by name, when he saw the girl bathing with
her mother, sent for her to take her for his wife ; but
her mother consented not. He often sent for her,
for he could not wait .
(Pages 133-134 are wanting.)
<themenof> (135) Ptolemy brought the girl, and
leaving her before the door of the house, went away.
" When I saw this, I and her mother went down-
stairs and found the girl, one side of her body from
head to foot being paralyzed and dried up. We car-
ried her away, praising the Lord that he had kept
his servant from defilement and violation and . . .
This is the reason why the girl < remains > thus to
this day. But now you shall hear what happened
to (p. 136) Ptolemy. He repented and lamented
night and day over that which had happened to him ;
and because of the many tears which he shed, he be-
came blind. Having decided to hang himself, be-
hold, about the ninth hour of that day, whilst alone
in his bedroom, he saw a great light, which illum-
inated the whole house, and he heard a voice saying
unto him: (p. 137) 'Ptolemy, God has not given
ACTS OF PETER 55
the vessels for corruption and violation; it is un-
seemly for thee, as thou hast believed on me, to
violate my virgin, whom thou shalt know as thy
sister, as if I had become one spirit to both of you —
but arise, and speedily go to the house of the apostle
Peter and thou shalt see my glory. He will make
known the matter to thee.' And Ptolemy delayed
not, but ordered his people (p. 138) to show him
the way and bring him to me. When he had come
to me, he told all that had happened to him in the
power of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And he saw with
the eyes of his flesh and with the eyes of his soul,
and many hoped on Christ; he did good unto them
and gave them the presence of God.
"After this Ptolemy died ; he departed and went to
his Lord (p. 139). <When he>, however,
<made> his will, he left a piece of land in the name
of my daughter, because through her he became a "be-
liever in God and was made whole. I, however, who
was appointed administrator, have acted carefully. I
sold the acre, and God alone knows that neither I nor
my daughter have kept anything from the money of
the acre, but I sent the whole sum to the poor.
Know, therefore, O servant of Christ Jesus, that
God (p. 140) rules (?) his people, and prepares for
each what is good ; we, however, think that God has
forgotten us. Now then, brethren, let us mourn, be
watchful and pray, and God's goodness will look
upon us, and we hope for it."
And some other addresses delivered Peter before
them, and glorifying the name of (p. 141) the Lord
56 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Christ he gave of the bread to every one of them;
and after having distributed it, he rose and went
into the house.
[THE PRAXIS OF PETER.]
Note.— It is evident that the narrative given above forms a
part of a larger work. This is already clear from the begin-
ning " on the first day of the week."
A copyist detached it from the entire work for a certain
purpose which he had in view. The piece was much too
small to be considered as an independent whole. The post-
script in the Coptic presupposes a Greek original, "praxis
Tetru." The entire work must accordingly have had this
title, and we have thus a hitherto unknown portion of the
ancient Acts of Peter, first mentioned by Eusebius {Hist,
eccles., Ill, 3, 2).
Of the paralytic daughter of Peter we read in Augustine
Contra Adimantum Manichcci discipiilum, 17, 5 ; also Jerome
ad Jovin., I, 26. The Acta Philippi (II, 2 p. 81) also men-
tion this fact and it is possible that the author of the Acts
of Philip perused the Acts of Peter. The story of Peter's
daughter was further developed in the Acts of Nereus and
Achilles,3 where her name is given as Petronilla, and not
Ptolemy but Flaccus is mentioned.
^ Acta St. Nerei et Achillei grcece, ed. A. Wirth, Leipzig,
1890 (on which see Kriiger in Theologische Litteraturzeitung,
1891, 69 f).; Acta St. Nerei et Achillei, ed. Achelis (Texte
und Untersucliungen, XI, 2 (1893). See also Schsefer, Die
Aktcn der hcill. Nereus und Achilleus. Untersuchung uber
den Original text und die Zeit seiner Entstehung (in Rd-
mische Quartalschrift, 8 (1894) 89-119) who claims a Latin
original; the same is also the view of Hilgenfeld in Berliner
philol. Wochenschrift, 1894, p. 1383.
ACTS OF PETER 57
2.
[Peter's Affair With Simon. ^]
(Actus Vercellenses.)
{Acta Apostolonim Apocrypha I, pp. 45-103)
I. When Paul was at Rome and confirmed many
in the faith, it also ^ happened that a certain woman
named Candida, wife of Quartus the custodian,
heard Paul and listened to his words and became a
believer. And when she on her part had instructed
her husband, who became a believer, Quartus per-
suaded Paul to leave the city (and to go) wherever
he pleased. Paul said to him, " If such be the will
of God, he will reveal it to me." And Paul fasted
three days and besought the Lord to grant what
were good for him, and in a vision he saw the Lord,
who said to him, " Paul, arise, and in thy body be a
physician to the Spaniards! " At this he related to
the brethren what God had commanded (him), and
without hesitation he made ready to leave the city.
When Paul was preparing to leave (the city), there
was a great lamentation among the brethren because
1 The above title is that given by Lipsius, which we re-
tained, though it is not the correct one. For, besides Peter's
affair with Simon, the Acts also treat of Paul's leaving the
Roman Congregation for Spain, and of Peter's martyrdom.
A more correct title were : " Deeds of the Apostle Peter."
2 From the word "also" it may be inferred that our sec-
tion follows another narrative. Possibly the canonical Acts
of the Apostles. In ch. i, reference is evidently to Paul's
imprisonment at Rome, and from Acts XXVIII, 16, we
know that he had a soldier that kept him, although he
dwelt in his own hired house (Acts XXVIII, 30).
58 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
they thought they would never see Paul again ; yea,
they even tore their garments, bearing in mind that
Paul often had a quarrel with the teachers of the
Jews ^ and had paid them off (with such words) :
Christ, on whom your fathers laid their hands, abro-
gated their Sabbath and their fasting and festivals
and circumcision and abrogated the teaching of men
and the other traditions. And the brethren adjured
Paul, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ^ not
to stay away more than a year, saying, " We know
thy love for thy brethren ; forget us not, when thou
comest (to Spain), and leave us not alone like chil-
dren without a mother." And while they were thus
beseeching him with tears, a sound was heard from
heaven and a very loud voice, saying, " Paul, the
servant of God, is chosen to the ministry for the time
of his life; under the hands of Nero, the wicked and
bad man, he will die before your eyes." And there
was a great fear among the brethren because of the
voice, which had come from heaven, and they were
the more confirmed (in the faith).
2. And they brought bread and water as a sacri-
fice to Paul that he might offer prayer (over it) and
distribute it among them. Among those present
was also a woman, named Rufina, who also wished
to receive the eucharist from the hands of Paul.
And when she came forward, Paul, filled by the
3 The author had undoubtedly the Acts of the Apostles in
his mind.
* The second coming is meant. This shows that the Acts
belong to a time in which the belief in the second coming
of Christ, was still alive in the congregations.
ACTS OF PETER 59
Spirit of God, said to her : " Rufiiia, not as a wor-
thy one dost thou approach the altar of God, since
thou dost rise from the side not of a husband, but
of a fornicator and thou dost endeavor to receive
God's eucharist. Behold, Satan will trample down
thy heart and expose thee before the eyes of all who
believe in the Lord, that they may see and believe
and know, that they have believed on the living God,
the searcher of hearts. But if thou wilt repent of
thy deed, he is faithful to forgive thy sins and can
free thee from this sin. But if thou repentest not
while thou art still in the body, the devouring fire
and the outer darkness will receive thee for ever."
And directly Rufina collapsed, being paralyzed on
the left side from head to foot. Nor could she
speak any more, for her tongue was tied.^ When
the old believers and neophytes ^ saw this, they beat
their breasts, remembering their former sins, la-
mented and said, " We know not whether God for-
gives us the former sins, which we have com-
mitted." ^
And Paul asked for silence, and said : " Men and
brethren, you who have now commenced to believe
on Christ, if you continue not in your former works
committed according to the tradition of your fathers,
and abstain from every deceit and wrath, from all
s A drastic illustration to I Cor. XI, 27, 29.
^ i.e. newly converted.
'' The general notion existed that through baptism the
former sins were forgiven ; see Tertullian de bapt. I ; Aris-
tides apol. 4, Hermas maud. IV, I, 11; 2, 2; Justin dial., 116,
Book of Jubilees, XXII, 14.
60 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
cruelty and fornication and pollution and pride and
jealousy and insolence and enmity,^ Jesus the living
God will forgive you what you have done ignorantly.
Wherefore, ye servants of God, let every one of you
put on peace, serenity, mildness, faith, charity,
knowledge, wisdom, love for the brotherhood, hospi-
tality, mercy, moderation, chastity, goodness, right-
eousness.^ Then you will have in eternity for your
guide the first-born of every creature and the power
in peace with our Lord." When Paul had spoken
thus, they asked him to pray for them. And Paul
lifted up his voice and said, " Eternal God, God of
heavens, God of unspeakable essence, who has estab-
lished all by thy word, and hast added to thy grace
a bond connected with the whole world, Father of
thy holy Son Jesus Christ, we jointly beseech thee
through thy Son Jesus Christ to strengthen the souls
which were once unbelieving, but now believe.
Once I was a blasphemer, but now I am blasphemed ;
once I was a persecutor, now I suffer persecution
from others ; once I was an enemy of Christ, now I
ask to be permitted to be a friend. For I trust in
his mercy and promise; (for) I believe that I am a
believer and have received remission of my former
sins. Therefore, I also exhort you, brethren, to be-
lieve in God the Father Almighty and put all your
trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, his Son. If you be-
8 This catalogue of vices is based on the Pauline epistles ;
see Gal. V, 19-21; Col. HI, 8; Eph. IV, 31; V, 3-
9 This list of virtues is also Pauline; see Gal. V, 22, 23;
Rom. XH; Eph. IV; Col. Ill, 12-16.
ACTS OF PETER 6l
lieve on him, no man will be able to pluck you out
of his promise. In like manner bend your knees and
commend me to the Lord, who am about to go to
another nation, that his grace may go before me and
my journey be prosperous, that it (the grace) may
receive his holy vessels and the believers, and thank-
ing me, who proclaimed unto them the word of the
Lord, they become firmly established (in the faith)."
And the brethren wept for a long time, and with
Paul they besought God and said, " O Lord Jesus
Christ, be thou with Paul, and bring him safely back
to us, for we know our weakness, which is still
in us."
3. And beseechingly a great multitude of women
implored blessed Paul on their knees, and kissed his
feet and conducted him to the harbor. And Diony-
sius and Balbus from Asia, Roman knights, illus-
trious men, together with a senator named Deme-
trius, took a hold of Paul's right hand and said,
" Paul, I should like to leave the city and be always
with thee, if I were not a state's officer." In like
manner spoke Cleobius and Iphitus and Lysimachus
and Aristeus of the house of Caesar, and two ma-
trons Berenice and Philostrate, together with the
presbyter Narcissus, ^"^ after they had conducted him
to the harbor. Since a storm was threatening, he
1° These are not the only persons belonging to the higher
ranks of Roman society, which are mentioned in the Acts.
We shall meet with other names yet (see chaps. 8, 17, 23,
30, 33, .34, etc.). This proves that about the year 200
Christianity had also its adherents among the prominent and
rich; see Harnack, Mission, p. 376 ff.
62 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
sent the brethren back to Rome (to announce) that
everyone who wished to hear Paul before he left
might come out. When the brethren had heard it,
they went up to the city. They communicated it to
the brethren who had remained in the city, and the
news soon spread. Some came on horses, others
walked, others came down the Tiber to the harbor,
and for three days he strengthened them by (his)
faith, and on the fourth day to the fifth hour. By
turns they prayed with Paul, offered him their gifts,
and put everything that was necessary into the ship,
and gave him also two believing young men as com-
panions, and bidding him farewell in the Lord they
returned to Rome.
4. ^^ After a few days there was a great com-
motion in the midst of the congregation, for (some)
said that they had seen strange things by the hand
of a man named Simon, who was at Aricia. They
also added that he claimed to be the great power
of God, doing nothing without God. Is he then
Christ? We however believe on him, whom Paul
has preached to us. For through him we saw how
the dead were raised and (some) were healed from
various diseases. This (the great power) seeks
conflicts; we know it, for (thus far) not the least
disturbance has risen among us. Perhaps he has
already come to Rome. For yesterday he was
asked with much acclamation (to do so), being told,
" Thou art God in Italy, the saviour of the Romans ;
11 With this chapter begins the narrative of Peter's conflict
with Simon.
ACTS OF PETER 63
hasten to Rome as quickly as possible." And he
addressed the people and said with a thin voice, " On
the following day about the seventh hour you shall
see me fly over the gate of the city in the same dress
in which I now speak to you. Wherefore, brethren,
if it seemeth good to you, let us go and diligently
await the end of the matter." And they all went
out and came to the gate. About the seventh hour,
there suddenly appeared afar off a dust-cloud in
the sky, looking like a smoke shining wuth a glare
of fire. And when it reached the gate, it suddenly
disappeared. Then it appeared standing in the
midst of the people, and all gazed at it and knew
that it was he, whom they had seen the day before.
And the brethren were exceedingly discomposed,
especially as Paul was not at Rome, nor Timothy
and Barnabas, whom Paul had sent to Macedonia,
nor anyone who could strengthen us in the faith,
especially the neophytes. And as Simon's authority
grew more and more, and some of those among
whom he labored, in their daily conversations, called
Paul a sorcerer and a juggler, all of the great multi-
tude which had been confirmed in the faith w^ere led
astray, excepting the presbyter Narcissus and two
women in the hospice of the Bithynians, and four
others, who could not leave the house; and day and
night they prayed the Lord that Paul might either
return as soon as possible or some one else (come)
to visit his servants whom the devil by his wicked-
ness had perverted.
5. While they were sorrowing and fasting, God
64 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
was even then preparing Peter at Jerusalem for the
future. After the twelve years had passed, accord-
ing to the direction of the Lord to Peter, Christ
showed to him the following vision, saying, " Peter,
Simon, whom thou hast driven out of Judea, after
thou hast exposed him as a magician, has forestalled
thee (and indeed) at Rome. And in short, all who
believed on me he has perverted by the cunning and
energy of Satan, whose power he proves to be. But
delay not. Go to-morrow (to Caesarea), and there
thou will find a ship, ready to sail to Italy. And
within a few days I will show thee my grace which
is to distinguish thee before all." Admonished by
this vision, Peter delayed not to mention it to the
brethren and said, " I must go up to Rome, to sub-
due the enemy and opponent of the Lord and of our
brethren." And he went down to Caesarea and
quickly entered the ship which was ready to sail
without providing (himself) with provisions. But
the steersman, named Theon, looked at Peter and
said, " What we have belongs to thee. For what
grace had we in receiving a man in precarious cir-
cumstances, who is like ourselves, without sharing
with him what we have? If only we have a safe
journey." Peter thanked him for his offer. And
he fasted in the ship, being dejected and yet again
comforted, because God regarded him as a servant
worthy of his service. A few days afterward the
steersman got up at breakfast time. And when he
asked Peter to eat with him, he said, " Whoever
thou art, I know thee too little; thou art either a
ACTS OF PETER 65
God or a man. But as much as I can see, I think
that thou art a servant of God. As I directed my
ship in the middle of the night, I fell asleep. It
seemed to me as if a human voice from heaven said
to me, Theon, Theon ! Twice it called me by name,
and said to me, ' Amongst all the passengers treat
Peter in the most honorable Avay. For with his
help, thou and the rest will safely make your jour-
ney.' " Peter, however, thinking that God wished to
show his providence to all those who were in the
ship, commenced at once to speak to Theon of the
great deeds of God, and how the Lord had chosen
him among the apostles and for what cause he went
to Italy. Daily he spoke to him of the word of
God. After they had become better acquainted, and
Peter had found out that Theon was one with him
in the faith and (that he would become) a worthy
servant (of God), the ship was detained by the calm
of the Adriatic Sea. Theon spoke of the calm to
Peter, and said, "If thou thinkest me worthy to
be baptized in the sign of the Lord, thou hast now
a chance." For all others in the ship were asleep,
being drunk. Peter let himself down by a rope and
baptized Theon in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost. The other
ascended out of the water rejoicing; Peter also had
become more cheerful, because God had deemed
Theon worthy of his name. And it happened that
in the same place in which Theon was baptized, a
young man, radiant in splendor, appeared, and said
to them, "Peace (be) with you!" And both
66 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Peter and Theon immediately ascended, entered the
cabin and Peter took bread and gave thanks to the
Lord, who had deemed him worthy of his holy serv-
ice and that a young man had appeared unto them,
saying, "Peace (be) with you." (Peter said)
" Best and only Holy One, for thou didst appear
unto us, O God Jesus Christ, in thy name I have
spoken, and he was signed with thy holy sign.
Therefore also I give to him in thy name thy eucha-
rist, that he may for ever be thy servant, perfect
without blemish." When they were eating and re-
joicing in the Lord suddenly a moderate wind but
not a violent one, arose at the stern of the ship
which lasted six days and six nights, till they came
to Puteoli.
6. Having landed at Puteoli, Theon left the
ship and went to the inn, where he usually stayed,
to make preparations for the reception of Peter.
The inn-keeper's name was Ariston, a God-fearing
man, and to him he went for the sake of the name
(of Christ). And when he had come to the inn
and found Ariston, Theon said to him, " God, who
found thee worthy to serve him, has also made
known unto me his grace through his holy servant,
Peter, who has just arrived with me from Judjea,
being bidden by our Lord to go to Italy." When
Ariston heard this, he fell upon Theon's neck, em-
braced him and asked him to bring him to the ship
and show Peter unto him. For Ariston said,
" since Paul had gone to Spain, there was not one
among the brethren who could strengthen me. Be-
ACTS OF PETER 67
sides, a certain Jew, named Simon, had broken into
the city. By means of his magical sayings and his
wickedness he had wholly perverted the entire fra-
ternity, so that I also fled from Rome hoping for
the arrival of Peter. For Paul had spoken of him,
and I saw many things in a vision. Now I fully
believe in my Lord, that he will again establish his
ministry. That all misleading be extinguished
from his servants. For our Lord Jesus Christ is
faithful, that he can renew again our thoughts."
When Theon heard this from the weeping Ariston,
his confidence grew still more, and he was still more
strengthened in his faith, seeing that he believed in
the living God. When they came to the ship, Peter
noticed them, and, filled with the Spirit, he smiled,
so that Ariston fell upon his face to the feet of
Peter, and said, *' Brother and sir, who makest
known the sacred secrets and teachest the right way,
which is in the Lord Jesus Christ, our God, through
thee he has shown us his coming. All whom Paul
has given to us, we have lost through the energy of
Satan. But now I trust in the Lord, who bade thee
his messenger to hasten to us, that he has deemed us
worthy, to make us see through thee his great and
wonderful deeds. I therefore ask of thee, come
quickly to the city. For the brethren who gave
offence, whom I saw fall into the snares of the devil,
I left and fled hither, saying to them. Brethren,
stand in the faith ; for it is necessary that within the
next two months the mercy of our Lord bring you
his servant. I saw a vision, namely, Paul speaking
68 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
to me, and saying, Ariston, flee from the city.
Having heard this, I beheved without wavering,
went from the city in the Lord, and, though the
flesh which I bear is weak, yet I came hither, stood
daily by the shore, and asked the sailors. Has Peter
come with you? And now since the grace of the
Lord is given us richly, I beseech thee to go up to
Rome without delay, lest the teaching of the wicked
fellow increases still more." When Ariston had
thus spoken amidst tears, Peter gave him his hand
and lifted him up from the ground, speaking himself
with tears and sighs : *' He who tempts the world by
his angels got ahead of us ; but he who has the power
to deliver his servants from all temptation will de-
stroy his misleadings and put them under the feet of
those who believe on Christ, whom we preach."
And when they entered by the gate Theon asked Pe-
ter and said, " During the long sea voyage thou hast
never refreshed thyself on the ship, and now wilt
thou go from the ship on such a rough road ? No,
stay, refresh thyself, and then go. From here to
Rome the road is paved and I fear thou might hurt
thyself." But Peter answered and said to them,
" But if it happened that about my neck and that of
the enemy of the Lord a millstone were hanged (as
my Lord said to us, if any had oflfended one of the
brethren), and we be drowned in the depths of the
sea? But not only will it be so that a millstone
(be hanged about the neck), but what is worse, (I)
the opponent of this persecutor of his servants shall
be consumed far away from those who have believed
ACTS OF PETER 69
on the Lord Jesus Christ." In no way could Theon
persuade him to remain a day longer. Whereupon
Theon gave everything that was in the ship to those
to whom it belonged, and followed Peter to Rome,
who accompanied Ariston to the house of the pres-
byter Narcissus.
7. Soon it became known among the scattered
brethren of the city that Peter had come (to Rome)
on account of Simon, to prove that he is a seducer
and persecutor of the good. And the whole multi-
tude came together to see the apostle of the Lord,
how he would confirm (the congregation) in Christ.
When they gathered on the first of the Sabbaths
to meet Peter, he began to speak with a loud voice :
" Ye men who are here, hoping in Christ, ye who
suffered temptation a little while, learn why God
sent his Son into the world, or why he begot (him)
by the Virgin Mary. (Had he done this) without
having in view some mercy or provision? For he
meant to annul every offense and every ignorance
and every activity of the devil, his instigations and
powers, by means of which he once had the upjier
hand, ere our God shone forth in the world. Since
with their many and manifold weaknesses they run
into death by their ignorance. Almighty God had
compassion and sent his Son into the world, of
which I am a witness. And he walked on the wa-
ters, of which I am also a witness as well as of that
which he wrought in the world by signs and won-
ders which he performed. I confess, dearest breth-
ren, that I was present; I denied our Lo-d Jcsns
70 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Christ, not once, but thrice ; for those who ensnared
me were wicked dogs, just as they (also deceived)
the prophets of the Lord. But the Lord laid it not
to my charge; he turned to me and had mercy on
the weakness of my flesh, so that I wept bitterly;
and I mourned for my little faith, having been de-
ceived by the devil and not heeding the word of my
Lord. And now, I tell you, men (and) brethren,
who are convened in the name of Jesus Christ,
Satan the deceiver sends his arrows also upon you,
that you leave the (right) way. But fall not off,
brethren, nor fail in your mind, but strengthen
yourselves, stand fast and doubt not. For if Satan
has offended me, whom the Lord esteemed so
highly, that I denied the light of my hope, causing
me to fall and persuading me to flee as if I believed
in a man, what think ye (will happen to you),
which have just become converted? Do you imag-
ine that he will not confound you for the sake of
making you enemies of the kingdom of God and to
bring you by the worst error into perdition? For
every one whom he deprives of the hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ is a child of perdition for all eter-
nity. Repent, therefore, brethren, whom the Lord
has chosen, and be firmly established in the Al-
mighty Lord, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
whom no one has ever seen nor can see except he
who believes on him. Know also whence the temp-
tation has come for you. For (I came) not for
the sake of convincing you with words, that he
whom I preach is the Christ, but by reason of
ACTS OF PETER 71
miraculous deeds and powers I exhort you by faith
in Jesus Christ, let no one wait for another (Sav-
iour) besides him who is despised and whom the
Jews have reviled, this crucified Nazarene, who died
and rose again on the third day."
8. The brethren (reflected) and asked Peter to
overcome Simon's claim that he was the power
of God. Simon was staying at the house of the
senator Marcellus, whom he had won over by his
magical speech. " Believe us, brother Peter "' they
said, " none among men was so wise as this Mar-
cellus. All widows, who hoped in Christ, took
their refuge in him; all orphans were fed by him.
Will you know more, brother ? All the poor called
Marcellus their patron; his house was called the
house of the pilgrims and poor. To him the em-
peror said, ' I will give you no office, lest you rob
the provinces and give (the plunder) to the Chris-
tians.' To which Marcellus replied, ' Yet every-
thing that is mine is thine.' Said Caesar to him,
* It were mine if you kept it for me ; but now, it is
not mine, since you give it to whom you please, and
who knows to what low people ? ' This, brother
Peter, we know and report to thee, now that the so
great benevolence of the man has been turned into
blasphemy. For had he not been changed we cer-
tainly should not have left the holy faith in God
our Lord. Now this Marcellus is furious and re-
pents of his good deeds and says, * So much wealth
have I spent for such a long time, in the foolish
belief that I spent it for the knowledge of God.'
^2. THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
(In his rage he feven goes) so far that, when a
pilgrim comes to the door of his house, he beats him
with a stick or has him beaten, and says, ' O, if I
had not spent so much money on those impostors ! '
And many more blasphemies does he utter. But
if you have something of the compassion of our
Lord in you and the goodness of his precepts, help
this man in his error; for he has shown goodness
to a great many of God's servants." When Peter
perceived this, he was very much moved, and said,
" O, the manifold arts and temptations of the devil !
O, the cunnings and devices of the evil one !
Treasuring up unto himself the great fire against
the day of wrath, destruction of simple men, a rav-
ening wolf, devouring and destroying eternal life!
Thou didst entice the first man to evil lust, and by
thy former wickedness and bodily bond thou hast
bound him (to thee). Thou art the fruit of bitter-
ness, which is entirely bitter, for thou infusest va-
rious desires. Thou hast forced my school-fellow
and co-apostle Judas to act wickedly, that he be-
trayed our Lord Jesus Christ; it is necessary that
thou be punished. Thou didst harden the heart of
Herod and kindle Pharaoh and didst make him fight
against Moses, the holy servant of God ; thou didst
embolden Caiaphas to deliver our Lord Jesus Christ
to the unfriendly multitude; and now thou art still
firing thy poisonous arrows at innocent souls.
Thou wicked foe of all, thou shalt be extinguished
as a curse from his Church (namely, from the
Church), of the Son of the holy, almighty God, and
ACTS OF PETER 73
as a firebrand thrown from the fireplace, by the
servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let thy black-
ness turn against thee and against thy sons, the
worst seed; let thy wickedness turn against thee;
and against thee thy threats, and thy temptations
against thee and thy angels, thou beginning of in-
iquity, abyss of darkness! Let the darkness which
thou hast be with thee and thy vessels, which thou
ownest. Depart, therefore, from those who are
about to believe in God ; depart from the servants of
Christ and from those who will serve in his army.
Keep for thee thy garments of darkness; without
cause thou knockest at strange doors which belong
not to thee, but to Christ Jesus, who keeps them.
For thou, ravening wolf, wilt rob the sheep, which
belong not to thee, but to Christ Jesus, who keeps
them with the greatest diligence."
9. When Peter had thus spoken with great sor-
row of his soul, many more believers were added
(to the congregation). And the brethren asked
Peter that he should cope with Simon and not suffer
that he disturb the people any longer. And with-
out delay Peter left the meeting (synagogue), and
went to the house of Marcellus, where Simon was.
And a great multitude followed him. When he
came to the door, he summoned the keeper and said
to him, " Go, tell Simon, ' Peter, on whose account
thou didst leave Judea, awaits thee at the door ! ' "
The keeper answered and said to Peter, " I know
not, sir, whether thou art Peter. But I have in-
structions : Knowing that thou didst arrive yester-
74 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
day In the city, he said to me, * Whether he comes
in the day or at night, or at whatever hour, say that
I. am not at home.' " But Peter said to the young
man, " Thou hast done well in telling me this, al-
though thou hast been forced by him (not to say it
to me)." And Peter, turning around to the people
which followed him, said," You are about to see a
great and wonderful sign." And Peter saw a big
dog, chained by a big chain, and he went and loos-
ened him. The dog, being loosed, became endowed
with a human voice, and said to Peter, " What wilt
thou to have me to do, servant of the unspeakable
living God ? " To which Peter said, " Go inside
and tell Simon in the presence of the people, Peter
sends word to thee to come outside. For on thy
account have I come to Rome, thou wicked one and
destroyer of simple souls," And the dog ran away
at once, and went into the midst of the people, which
were with Simon, and, lifting his forefeet, he said
with a very loud voice, " Thou, Simon, Peter, who
stands at the door, bids thee to come outside before
all; for on thy account have I come to Rome, thou
wicked one and destroyer of simple souls."
When Simon heard this and saw the incredible oc-
currence, he had no words with which he otherwise
deceived those present, while the others were con-
founded.
lo. When Marcellus had seen this, he ran out-
side and fell down before Peter, and said, " Peter,
thou holy servant of the holy God, I embrace thy
feet; I have committed many sins; resent not my
ACTS OF PETER 75
sins, if thou hast some true faith in Christ, whom
thou preachest; if thou rememberest the command-
ments, to hate none, to do no evil to anyone, as I
have learned from thy fellow-apostle Paul ; mention
not my sins, but pray for me to the Lord, the holy
Son of God, whom I angered in persecuting his
servants. Pray, therefore, for me, like a good ad-
vocate of God, that I may not be given over with the
sins of Simon to the everlasting fire. For by his
persuasion it came about, that I erected to him a
statue ^^ with the following inscription: (Dedi-
cated) to Simon, the juvenile god. If I knew,
Peter, that thou could be gained over with money, I
would give (thee) all my property. Despising, I
would give it to thee, to save my soul. If I had
sons, I would esteem (them) for nothing, but only
believe in the living God. I confess, however, that
he only seduced me because he said that he is the
power of God. Nevertheless I will tell thee, sweet-
est Peter : I was not worthy to hear thee, servant
of God, and I was not firmly established in the
belief in God which is in Christ : wherefore I
flinched. I pray thee, therefore, be not angry at
what I am about to say. Christ our Lord, whom
thou preachest in truth, said to thy fellow-apostles
in thy presence, ' If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Re-
12 Justin Martyr Apol. I, 26, 56, also speaks of such a
statue. This subject has been treated by Lugano (in Nuovo
BuUetino di archeologia cristiana, VI, 1900, pp. 29-66) in
his essay : " Le memorie leggendarie di Simon Mago e
della sua volata."
•J^ THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
move hence to yonder place and it shall remove.' ^^
But this Simon called thee, Peter, an unbeliever,
because thou didst doubt on the waters. ^^ And I
heard that he also said this : Those who are with
me, understood me not.^^ If, therefore, ye, upon
whom he laid his hands,^^ whom he even has cho-
sen, with whom he even performed miraculous
deeds — if ye doubted, therefore I also am sorry,
and relying upon his testimony, I flee to thy inter-
cession. Receive me, who has fallen away from
our Lord and his promise. But I believe that by
repenting he will have mercy on me. For the Al-
mighty is faithful to forgive my sins." And Peter
said with a loud voice, " Glory and praise be unto
our Lord, Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. To thee be praise and honor for ever and
ever. Amen. Since thou hast now also fully
strengthened us and hast fully established us in thee
before the eyes of all who see it, holy Lord, confirm
Marcellus and give him and his house thy peace
to-day. But all that are lost or erring, thou alone
canst lead them rightly. We worship thee, O Lord,
the Shepherd of the sheep once scattered, but now
they will be brought together through thee. So
receive Marcellus also as one of thy sheep, and
suffer not that he walk about any longer in error
13 Matt. XVn, 20; XXI, 21; Mark XI, 23.
i4Comp. Matt. _ XIV, 31.
15 The subject is Christ, not Simon. The saying is extra-
canonical, and belongs to the many mentioned in Pick,
Paralipoinena, p. 66. Whence the author of the Acts has it,
we know not.
^^ Of this the canonical gospels know nothing.
ACTS OF PETER 'J'J
or in ignorance ; but receive him among the number
of thy sheep. Yea, Lord, receive him, since he be-
seeches thee with sorrow and with tears."
II. Having thus spoken, and having embraced
Marcellus, Peter turned to the muhitude which
stood beside him, when he perceived one laughing,
in whom was a very bad devil. Peter said to him,
" Whoever thou art which hast been laughing, show
thyself in public." When the young man heard
this, he ran into the court of the house, cried with
a loud voice, threw himself against the wall, and
said, " Peter, there is a good contention between
Simon and the dog, which thou didst send inside.
For Simon says to the dog, Say I am not here.
But the dog tells him more things than thou didst
command. And when he has fulfilled thy behest,
he will die at thy feet." And Peter said, " Demon,
whoever thou art, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, depart from this young man without hurt-
ing him. Show thyself to all present." When the
young man heard this, he rushed forward took hold
of a large marble statue, which stood in the court
of the house, and demolished it by kicks. It was
a statue of Caesar. When Marcellus saw this, he
slapped his forehead and said to Peter, " A great
crime has been committed; for should Caesar hear
of it through one of his spies, he will greatly punish
us." Peter answered, " I see that thou art not so,
as a short time ago, when thou didst say to be ready
to spend everything for the salvation of thy soul.
But if thou art in earnest with thy repentance and
78 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
believest in Christ with all thy heart, take the water
flowing down into thy hands and beseeching the
Lord, sprinkle it in his name on the pieces of the
statue, and it shall be whole as before." Marcellus
doubted not, but believed with his whole heart, and
before taking the water he lifted up his hands and
said, " I believe in thee. Lord Jesus Christ. For
thy apostle Peter has examined me whether I have
the right faith in thy holy name. Wherefore I take
water in my hands and sprinkle this statue in thy
name, that the statue become whole again as before.
If it is thy will, O Lord, that I live and receive no
punishment from Caesar, let this statue be whole as
before." And he sprinkled water on the stones,
and the statue became whole. Peter was proud
therefore, that he hesitated not to petition the Lord ;
but Marcellus also rejoiced in the Spirit, that such
a sign — the first one — took place under his hands.
He believed therefore, with all his heart on the name
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by whom all things
impossible become possible.
12. And Simon being inside, spoke thus to the
dog : " Tell Peter that I am not in." But the dog
said to him in the presence of Marcellus, " Thou
most wicked and impudent, worst enemy of all who
live and believe in Christ Jesus. A dumb animal,
which received a human voice, has been sent to
thee to convince thee and to prove that thou art a
juggler and deceiver. It required so many hours
for thee to say, Say I am not here ! Thou hast not
been ashamed to lift up thy weak and useless voice
ACTS OF PETER 79
against Peter, the servant and apostle of Christ, as
if thou coLildst be hidden from him who told me to
speak to thy face. And this, not on thy account,
but on account of those whom thou didst deceive
and bring into perdition. Thou shalt therefore be
accursed, thou enemy and destroyer of the way of
Christ's truth, who shall punish thy iniquities which
thou didst do with the imperishable fire, and thou
shalt be in outer darkness." Having thus spoken
these words, the dog ran away. And the multitude
followed, so that Simon remained alone. And the
dog came to Peter, who was with the crowd (which
had come), to see the face of Peter; and the dog
reported of his affair with Simon. To the messen-
ger and apostle of the true God the dog said as
follows : " Peter, thou shalt have a hard fight with
Simon, the enemy of Christ, and with his adher-
ents ; but many whom he deceived thou wilt convert
to the faith. For this thou shalt receive a reward
for thy work from God." Having thus spoken,
the dog fell at the feet of Peter and expired. ^'^
When the multitude with great astonishment saw
the talking dog, many fell down at the feet of Peter,
but others said : " Show us another miracle that we
may believe thee as a servant of the living God ; for
Simon too did many wonders in our presence, and
on that account we followed him."
13. And Peter turning around saw a smoked
tunny hanging by a window which he took, saying
1'' In the Acts of Thomas, ch. 41, we read the same of
the speaking ass.
8o THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
to the people, " When you see this swimming in
the water like a fish, will you be able to believe on
him whom I preach ? " And all said with one
voice, " Indeed we shall believe thee." So he went
to the pond near by, saying, " In thy name, O Jesus
Christ, on whom they believe not yet — (Tunny)
in the presence of all these, live and swim like a
fish." And he cast the tunny into the pond, and
it became alive and began to swim. When the
multitude saw the swimming fish — and he let him
swim not only in (that) hour, but lest they said
that it is a deception, he made him swim longer,
thus bringing the people together from all parts and
showing that the smoked tunny had again become
a fish, the success was such that many threw pieces
of bread into the water, thus seeing the fish fully.
Very many who had witnessed this, followed Peter,
and believed on the Lord, and met day and night
in the house of Narcissus the presbyter. And
Peter spoke to them of the prophetical writings and
of the things done by our Lord Jesus Christ in word
and deed.
14. Marcellus, however, increased daily (more
and more in the faith), seeing the signs which Peter
did by the grace of Jesus Christ, which was given
to him. And Marcellus attacked Simon, who sat
in the dining-room of his house. Revilingly he
said to him, " O thou most malevolent and most
pestilential of men, destroyer of my soul and of my
house, who didst intend to lead me away from the
Lord Christ, my Saviour." And he laid his hand
ACTS OF PETER 8l
on him, and ordered that he be thrown out of his
house. And the servants having obtained permis-
sion, treated him in the most shameful way; some
struck him in the face, some beat him with a rod,
some flung stones at him, some emptied vessels
containing dirt over his head (those especially),
who for his sake had left their master and were im-
prisoned; other servants whose master he had in-
fluenced against them reviled and said to him,
" Now we return to thee the worthy reward, accord-
ing to the will of God, who had mercy upon us and
upon our lord." And Simon, thus treated, left the
house and went to the house in which Peter stayed.
Standing at the door of the house of the presbyter
Narcissus, he cried, " Behold, here am I, Peter ;
come down, Peter, and I will prove that thou didst
believe in a Jewish man and the son of a carpenter."
15. When Peter heard these things, he sent to
him a woman with her suckling and said to her,
" Go forth speedily and thou shalt see one seeking
me. As for thee, speak not, but keep silent and
listen to what the child which thou boldest will say
to him." And the woman went down. And her
babe was seven months old. Assuming a manly
voice, it said to Simon, " O thou horrible before
God and men ; O destroyer of truth and worst seed
of corruption; O unfaithful fruit of nature! Only
a little while, an everlasting punishment awaits thee.
Son of an impudent father, never taking root in
good (soil), but in poison; unfaithful generation,
destitute of all hope : when the dog accused thee,
82 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
thou wast not confounded. I, a child, am forced
by God to speak and still thou blushest not. But
against thy will, on the coming Sabbath day,
another shall lead thee to the Julian forum that
thou mayest be shown what thou art. Leave,
therefore, the door by which the saints enter in.
For no more shalt thou corrupt innocent souls
whom thou didst destroy and lead away from
Christ. Thy whole evil nature will therefore be
manifested, and thy machinations will be spoiled.
Now I say to thee the last word: Jesus Christ says
to thee, Grow speechless by my name, and leave
Rome till the coming Sabbath."
At once he became speechless, and being con-
strained he left Rome till the next Sabbath and re-
mained in a stable. The woman returned to Peter
with the babe, and told Peter and the other brethren
what the child had said to Simon. And they
praised the Lord, who had shown such things to
men.
1 6. When the night came, Peter saw Jesus
clothed with a shining garment, smiling. Peter
was yet awake, and (Christ) said to him, "the
greatest part of the brethren has already come back
through me, and through him by whom thou hast
made signs in my name. But on the coming Sab-
bath thou shalt have a contest of faith, and many
more Gentiles and Jews shall be converted in my
name to me, who was reviled, despised and spit
upon. For I shall show myself unto thee, when
thou askest for signs and wonders, and thou shalt
ACTS OF PETER 83
convert many, but thou wilt have an opponent in
Simon through the works of his father. But all
his doings shall be manifested as sorcery and mag-
ical deception. And now delay not and thou shalt
confirm in my name all those whom I shall send
to thee." When it was day, he told the brethren
how the Lord had appeared unto him and what he
commanded him.
" Believe me, men and brethren, I have driven
this Simon from Judea; by means of his magical
sayings he did much mischief. In Judea he stayed
in the house of a woman called Eubola, highly es-
teemed in this world and having much gold and
pearls. A\'ith two like him Simon sneaked in ; none
of the servants saw the two but only Simon; they
used their magic art, carried off all the gold of the
woman, and were not seen. When Eubola had
found out what had taken place, she had the serv-
ants tortured, and said. You made use of the oppor-
tunity (when) the man of God (came to me),
and robbed me, because you saw that he came to
honor a plain woman; his name is the name of the
Lord. And I fasted three days and prayed that
this event l^ecome known, and in a vision I see Ital-
icus and Antulus, whom I had instructed in the
name of the Lord, and a boy naked and bound
giving unto me a wheaten bread and saying, Peter
hold out yet for two days, and thou shalt see the
great deeds of God. For (thou shalt see) that by
means of magical art and trickery Simon and his
two fellows have stolen the things from the house
84 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
of Eubola. At the ninth hour of the third day thou
shalt see them at the gate which leads to Neapohs,
trying to sell to a goldsmith, Agrippinus by name,
a golden satyriscus weighing two pounds, and con-
taining a precious stone. But thou must not touch
him, in order not to pollute thyself; but let some of
the lady's servants accompany thee, and having
shown them the shop of the goldsmith, leave them.
This event will make many believe in the Lord.
For what they did steal in their cunning and wick-
edness shall be made manifest.
" Upon hearing this, I went to Eubola, whom
I found sitting in a rent garment and with dishev-
eled hair and in grief. I said to her, Eubola, rise
(and desist) from thy grief; put thy face in order,
arrange thy hair, and put on a dress which is suit-
able for thee, and pray to the Lord Jesus Christ,
who judges every soul. For he is the son of the
invisible God, in whom thou must be saved, if thou
wilt only heartily repent of thy former sins ; and re-
ceive strength from him. For the Lord wishes to
inform thee through me that thou shalt get back all
that thou hast lost. And having received it, see to
it that he may find thee as such a one who renounces
the present world and finds an everlasting comfort.
Wherefore listen: let some of thy (servants) watch
at the gate which leads to Neapolis. Day after to-
morrow, about the ninth hour, they shall notice two
young men who wall offer for sale a golden saty-
riscus set in stones and weighing two pounds —
for thus I was shown in a vision — to a certain
ACTS OF PETER 85
Agrippinus, a man of piety and believing on the
Lord Jesus Christ. Through him it will be shown
to thee to believe on the living God and not in
Simon the magician, the deceitful demon who would
have thee sorrowing and thy innocent servants tor-
tured, who deceived thee with flattering words, but
only with words, and only spoke with the mouth of
piety, whereas he is wholly impious. For when
thou didst imagine to have a good day and didst
put up an idol and adorned it, and didst exhibit all
thy ornaments on a costly table, he (came) with
two young men, whom none of you did see; they
uttered their magical saying, robbed thy jewels, and
were not seen. But this trickery cannot last. For
my God has revealed it to me that thou mayest not
be deceived and perish in hell ; and whatever im-
piety and opposition thou hast shown toward God,
who is all truth and a righteous judge of the living
and the dead <he shall pardon thee>, and men have
no other hope of life except by him, through whom
that which thou hast lost has been saved for thee.
And now save thy soul. And she fell down to my
feet and said, Man, who thou art, I know not. It
is true that I received that man as a servant of God,
and whatever he asked of me for the care of the
poor I spent much through his hands, besides what
I richly gave to him. But what have I ever done
to him that he brought such great misery over my
house? Peter said to her, We must not believe in
words, but in works and deeds. Therefore let us
bring about what has been commenced. Thus I
86 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
left her, and with two stewards of Eubola I went
to Agrippinus and said to him, See that thou recog-
nizest these. For to-morrow two young men shall
come to thee, offering for sale a golden satyriscus
set in stones, which belongs to their mistress. Re-
ceive them under the pretense of examining and
praising the work of the artist. These will come
in — and the rest God will bring about for a proof.
On the following day the stewards of the matron ar-
rived about the ninth hour, and those young men
were about to sell to Agrippinus the golden satyris-
cus. They were seized at once and the matter was
reported to the matron. And she went to the gov-
ernor, her mind being troubled, and with a very loud
voice she told him of what had happened. When the
governor, Pompey, noticed her, who had never ap-
peared in public, and perceived how troubled she
was in her mind, he arose from his judgment seat
and went to the pretorium and had them brought
before him and carefully examined. Being tor-
tured, they confessed that they were in the service
of Simon, who had induced them with money.
They also confessed that all which belonged to Eu-
bola was hidden in a cave under the ground on the
other side of the gate together with many other
things. When Pompey heard this, he arose to go to
the gate, the two having been bound with double
bonds. And behold, Simon came to the gate to seek
them, because tliey were so slow, when he beheld tlie
great multitude and the two in bonds. He at once
understood the case, took to flight, and was never
ACTS OF PETER 87
since seen in Judea. Eiibola, after she got her prop-
erty, gave it for the service of the poor ; she beheved
in the Lord Jesus Christ and was strengthened, de-
spised and renounced this world, supported the
widows and orphans, clothed the poor, and after a
long time fell asleep. This, most beloved brethren,
took place in Judea, and he who was called the
angel of Satan was driven away thence.
18. " Dearest and most beloved brethren, let us
fast and pray to the Lord. He who drove him
away thence is powerful enough to extirpate him
hence. May he give us his power to oppose him
and his magical sayings, and to demonstrate that
he is the angel of Satan. For on the Sabbath our
Lord will bring him against his will to the Julian
forum. Let us therefore bend our knees before
Christ, who hears us, though we have not cried
(to him) ; who sees us, though he is not seen with
these (our) eyes, but he is among us; if we wish,
he will not forsake us. Let us therefore purify
our souls from every evil temptation, and God will
not leave us; and if we only beckon him with the
eyes, he is with us."
19. When Peter had spoken thus, Marcellus
came near, and said, " Peter, I have purified my
whole house for thee from every vestige of Simon,
and have blotted out (every vestige) of his shame-
ful dust. I took water and with his other servants,
which belong to him, I called upon the holy name of
Jesus Christ, and sprinkled my whole house and
every dining-room and every colonnade as far as
SS THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the door, and said, I know, O Lord Jesus Christ,
that thou art pure and undefiled from every impur-
ity, so that mine enemy and opponent is driven away
from before thy glance. And now, most blessed,
I have invited to my purified house the widows and
elders to come to thee, that they pray wtih us. And
each will receive for the sake of the ministry (of
Christ) a piece of gold, that in truth they may be
called servants of Christ. Everything else, how-
ever, is already prepared for the service (of God),
Now I pray thee, most blessed Peter, to seal their
petitions, and beautify their prayers (which they
offer) for me (by thy presence). Let us therefore
go; we will also take along Narcissus and all the
brethren which are here." Peter consented to his
simplicity, and in order to do his will, he goes with
him and the other brethren.
20. When Peter had entered, he saw one of the
old women deprived of her eyesight, whom her
daughter led by the hand and conducted into the
house of Marcellus. And Peter said to her, " Come
here, mother; from this day Jesus gives you his
right hand; through him we have a light which no
man can approach unto, which darkness cannot
cover. Through me he says to thee. Open the eyes,
be seeing and walk alone." And the widow noticed
at once how Peter put his hand upon her. When
Peter came into the dining-room he saw that the
gospel was read. And closing it he said, " Men,
ye who believe on Christ and hope in him, you
shall know how the holy writing of our Lord must
ACTS OF PETER 89
be explained. What we have written down accord-
ing to his grace, though it may seem to you ever so
little, yet what it contains is comprehensive
(enough) to be understood by humanity. It is
necessary that we first know God's will or his good-
ness, since deceit was once spread and many thou-
sands of men were drawn in perdition, wherefore
the Lord was moved by compassion to show him-
self in another form and to appear in the image of
man, whom neither the Jews nor w^e can view in
a worthy manner. For each of n& saw (him) as
his capacity permitted to see (him). Now, how-
ever, I will explain to you that which has been read
to you. And our Lord wished to let me see his
majesty on the holy mountain ; ^^ but when I with
the sons of Zebedee saw his brightness, I fell at his
feet as dead, closed my eyes and heard his voice in
a manner which I cannot describe ; I imagined I had
been deprived of my eyesight by his splendor. I
recovered a little and said within me. Perhaps the
Lord has brought me hither to deprive me of my
eyesight. And I said, If such be thy will, O Lord,
I shall not contradict. And he took me bythe hand
and lifted me up. And when I arose, I saw him
again as one whom I could not comprehend. How
the merciful God, most beloved brethren, has borne
our infirmities and took upon him our transgres-
sions, as the prophet says : ' He bears our griefs ;
and has sorrows for us; yet we did esteem him
"11 Pet. I, 16, 18; comp. Matt. XVII, i seq.
90 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Stricken and afflicted.' ^^ Whereas ' he is in the
Father and the Father in him ' ; ^^ in him also is
the fulness of all majesty, who has shown us all his
benefits. He ate and drank on our account, though
he was neither hungry nor thirsty; he suffered and
bore revilings for us, he died and rose for us. He
also defended and strengthened me through his
greatness when I sinned; he will also comfort you,
that you love him, this Great and Small One, this
Beautiful and Ugly One, this Young Man and Old
Man, appearing in time, yet utterly invisible in eter-
nity; whom a human hand has not grasped, but is
now held by his servants; whom flesh has not seen
and now sees; who has not been heard, but is
known now, the word which is heard, and now he
has suffered as ourselves; never chastised, but now
chastised; who was before the world and is now
perceived in time, great beginning of all dominion
and delivered to the princes; glorious, but low
among us; homely looking, yet attractive. This
Jesus you have, brethren, (as) the door, the light,
the way, the bread, the water, the life, the resurrec-
tion, the recreation, the pearl, the treasure, the seed,
the satiety, the grain of mustard seed, the vine, the
plow, the grace, the faith, the word : he is every-
thing, and there is none greater than he ; to him be
praise in all eternity. Amen." ^^
i9Isa. LHI, 4.
20 John X, 38; XVH, 21; Col. I, 19; II, 9.
21 Justin Martyr also gives a list of different names of
Christ, but they are all taken from the Old Testament
(.Dial. c. 34, 59, 61, 100, 113, 126, 128). It is true that our
ACTS OF PETER 9I
21. When the ninth hour had passed, they arose
to pray. And behold, Wind widows from the com-
pany of the old women who were present without
Peter knowing it, and who were disbelieving cried
out suddenly and said to Peter, " We sit together, O
Peter, hoping and believing on Jesus Christ. As
thou didst give the eyesight to one of our company,
we ask, Peter, give us also of his compassion and
love." But Peter said to them, " If you believe on
Christ, if he is confirmed in you, see with the mind
what you cannot see with the eyes; and your ears
are closed, but within your mind they may be
opened. These eyes will be closed again, which see
nothing else than men and cattle, and dumb animals
and stone and wood; but not all eyes see Jesus
Christ. But now, O Lord, let thy sweet and holy
name help them; touch their eyes, for thou art
mighty, that they may see with their eyes." After
they had prayed, the dining-room in which they
were, became as bright as lightning; but such a
(brightness) as is usually in the clouds. And it
was not such a light as is during the day (but),
indescribable, incomprehensible, as no man can de-
scribe it, a light which illuminated us so far that
its wonderfulness made us dizzy, and we cried to the
Lord and said, " Lord, have mercy upon thy serv-
ants! What we can bear, O Lord, grant unto us;
author uses the O. T. also, but he mainly uses the New-
Test. Some of the predicates of Christ mentioned here
are not found in the New Test. Christ is never called
"grace," "faith."
92 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
for this we can neither see nor bear." Whilst we
were prostrated, those widows stood erect, for they
were blind. The bright light, however, which ap-
peared unto us, entered into their eyes and they be-
came seeing. Peter said to them, " Tell what you
have seen." They said, " We saw an old man
whose appearance we cannot describe unto thee " ;
some, however (said), "We saw a young man";
others said, " We saw a boy tenderly touching our
eyes; thus our eyes were opened." Wherefore
Peter praised the Lord, and said, " Thou alone art
the Lord God, to praise whom we need so many
lips, able to thank thee for thy mercy. Therefore,
brethren, as I told you before in a few words,
greater is the constancy of God than our thoughts,
as we have learned from the old widows, how they
saw the Lord in different forms."
2.2. And he exhorted (the brethren) altogether
that they might understand the Lord with all their
strength, and with Marcellus and the other brethren
he began to minister to the virgins of the Lord, and
to rest till morning. Marcellus said to them, " Ye
holy, undefiled virgins of the Lord, hearken : You
know where you (may) abide. For that which is
mine, is it not yours? Depart not, but refresh
yourselves, for on the Sabbath which will com-
mence to-morrow, Simon will contend with Peter,
the holy one of the Lord. As the Lord has always
been with him, may the Lord Christ be on his side, as
for his apostle, for Peter has refused to eat anything,
but fasted continually to be enabled to overcome the
ACTS OF PETER 93
bad enemy and persecutor of the truth of the Lord.
For my servants have come and reported how they
saw platforms erected in the forum and heard the
multitude say, To-morrow at the break of the day
two Jews must contend here concerning the dis-
courses of God. Therefore let us watch till to-mor-
row morning and beseechingly ask our Lord Jesus
Christ to hear our prayers in behalf of Peter."
And Marcellus slept for a little while, and awaking
said to Peter : " O Peter, apostle of Christ, let us
boldly carry out our resolution. In my sleep I saw
thee sitting in an elevated place, and before (thee)
a great multitude, and a very ugly woman, accord-
ing to her appearance an Ethiopian, ^^ no Egyptian,
but very black, clad in filthy rags, but with an iron
chain about the neck and a chain on her hands and
feet; she danced. When thou didst see her, thou
didst say to me with a loud voice, Marcellus, this
is the whole power of Simon and of his god, which
dances: behead her. And I said to thee, Brother
Peter, I am a senator of a noble race, and I have
never contaminated my hands, not even a sparrow
22 The notion of the devil as of an Ethiopian widely pre-
vailed (in Egypt?). In the Arabic life of Schnudi we read:
" Puis il (the devil) prit la forme d'un negre abyssinien,
d'une haute taille et d'une horrible figure " (Mission arche-
ologique fran^-aise an Caire, IV, I p. 444). In the Vie de
Paul de Tamoueh ibidem IV, 2, p. 766) : " il se transfigura,
il devint un grand Ethiopien, ses yeux etaient pleins de
sang, tout son corps plein d'epines et il sentait mauvais
comme un bouc." In the middle ages this trait still pre-
vailed. It is said of French Manichaeans of the XI, cent. :
" Adorabant diabolum, qui primo eis in v^i^thiopis, deinde
angeli lucis figuratione apparet " (Giescler, Kirchengeschichte,
II, I*, p. 410, note 3).
94 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
have I ever killed. Upon hearing this, thou didst
cry the louder, Come, our true sword, Jesus Christ,
and cut off not only the head of the demon, but
break also all his members in the presence of all
these, whom I have tested in thy service. And at
once a man like thee, O Peter (came) with a sword
in his hand and knocked her down. And I looked
at both of you, at thee and at him who knocked
down that demon, and you were both alike to my
astonishment. After I awoke I communicated to
thee these signs of Christ." Upon hearing this,
Peter was the more encouraged, because Marcellus
had seen these things, for the Lord everywhere
takes care of his own. Rejoicing and strengthened
by these \vords, he rose to go to the forum.
22^. And the brethren and all those which were
at Rome came together, and for the pieces of gold
(which they had received) each occupied a seat.
Senators and prefects and officers also met. But
when Peter came, he stood in the midst. All cried
aloud, " Show us, O Peter, who thy God is, or
which majesty there is which gave thee confidence.
Be not disaffected to the Romans, they are lovers
of the gods. We have the proofs of Simon, let
us have yours also ; show us, both of you, whom we
must believe." And when they spake thus, Simon
also came. Dismayed he stood by the side of Peter,
glancing especially at him. After a long silence
Peter said, " Ye Roman men, ye shall be our true
judges. I say that I believe on the living and true
God, of whom I will give you proofs, already
ACTS OF PETER 95
known to me, and of which many among you (can
ah'eady) testify. You see that this one is silent,
because he has been refuted and because I have
driven him from Judea on account of the frauds
perpetrated upon Eubola, a highly respected but
single woman, by means of his magic. From
thence he was driven away by me and came hither,
believing that he can remain unknown among you ;
and now, here he stands face to face. Say on,
Simon, didst thou not fall at my feet and those
of Paul, when in Jerusalem thou didst perceive the
miraculous cures which took place by our hands,
and saidst, I pray you, take as much money of me
as you wash, that (I too) may by laying on of hands
perform such deeds. And when we heard this
from thee, we cursed thee : do you think that we
try to possess money? And now you fear noth-
ing? ^^ My name is Peter, because the Lord Christ
had the grace to call me ' to be ready for every
cause.' ^^ For I believe in the living God, through
wdioni I shall destroy thy magic arts. Let him
perform in your presence the wonderful things
which he did. And will you not believe me what
I just told you concerning him ? " And Simon
said, " Thou hast the impudence to speak of Jesus
the Nazarene, the son of a carpenter, himself a car-
penter,^^ whose family is of Judea. Listen Peter :
-3 Comp. Acts of the Apostles VIII, 18-20.
24 This is a Latin play of words. (Petrus and paratus).
The reference is evidently to Matt. XVI, 17-19.
25 Celsus also calls Christ a carpenter {Origcn. contra
Celsum VI, 34). But in ch. 36, Origen says that in the
96 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
The Romans have understanding; they are no
fools." And turning to the people, he said, " Men
of Rome, is a God born ? is he crucified ? Whoever
has a master, is no God." And when he spoke this,
many said, " Thou art right, Simon."
24. And Peter said, " Cursed be thy words
against Christ. Thou didst speak so impudently
whereas the prophet says of him, * Who shall de-
clare his generation ? ' ^^ And another prophet
says : ' And we have seen him, and he had no
former comeliness.' ^^ And : * in the last days a
child shall be born of the Holy Spirit ; his mother
knows not a man, and no one also says that he is
his father.'-^ And again he says: 'she has
brought forth and has not brought forth.' ^^
And again : ' is it a very little thing to offer you
a battle? Behold, in the womb a virgin shall con-
ceive.' ^^ And another prophet says to honor the
father : ' We neither heard her voice, nor did a
midwife come.' ^^ Another prophet says, ' he
came not out of the womb of a woman, but de-
gospels nothing of this kind is said of Jesus. He seems to
have overlooked Mark VI, 3.
26Isa. LHI, 8.
27 The author erroneously ascribes to " another prophet "
what also belongs to Isaiah (LIII. 2).
28 Lipsius refers this to Orac. Sibyll. VIII, 457 ff.
29 According to Tert. de came Christi, c. 23, the author
of this saying is Ezekiel ; as a word of scripture it is also
quoted by Clem. Alex. Stromata VII, 16, 94 ; Epiphan. hcures.
XXX, 30. The quotations are found in Resch, Agrapha, p.
305 sq.
30 See Isa. VII, 13 (LXX).
31 In the Asccnsio Jcsaice XI, 14, we read : " she has not
borne a child, nor has a midwife gone up (to her), nor
have we heard the cries of pain."
ACTS OF PETER 97
scended from a heavenly place,' ^- and ' a stone
was cut out without hands and has broken all king-
doms,' ^^ and ' the stone which the builders refused
is become the head stone of the corner,' ^^ and he
calls it ' the tried, precious '^^ stone. And again
the prophet says of him : ' I saw him come wath the
clouds of heaven like the Son of man.' ^° And
what more shall I say? Ye men of Rome, if ye
knew^ the prophetical writings, I would explain to
you all. It was necessary that through them it
should be (spoken) in mystery (and) the King-
dom of God be completed. But this shall be opened
unto you afterward. Now (I turn) to thee,
Simon: do now one (of the signs) whereby thou
didst deceive them before, and I shall frustrate it
through my Lord Jesus Christ." Simon took
courage and said, " If the prefect permits."
25. The prefect, however, w'ished to show
(both) his patience, that he might not appear as
acting unjustly. And the prefect summoned one
of his slaves and thus spoke to Simon : " Take him,
kill (him)." To Peter he said, "And do thou
revive him." And to the people the prefect said,
" It is for you to decide which of these is accepted
before God, he who kills, or he who revives."
And Simon whispered something into the ear of
32 Lipsius states "unde verba sint nescio " (i.e. I know
not whence these words), Resch, 1. c. p. 278 refers to John
I, 13.—
22 Dan. II, 34.
s^Ps. CXVill, 22; comp. Matt. XXI, 42.
sMsa. XXVIII, 16; I Pet. II. 4, 6.
30 Dan. VII, 13; Matt. XXIV, 30; XXVI, 64.
98 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the slave, and without speaking aloud he brought
it about that the slave became silent and died. But
when the people began to murmur, one of the
widows which had been cared for by Marcellus
cried out, " Peter, servant of God, my son is dead,
the only one which I had," The people made room
for her, and they brought her to Peter. And she
fell down at his feet and said, " I had only one
son; by the labor of his hands he provided for
me;^^ he lifted me up, he carried me. Now he is
dead, who will give me a hand ? " Peter said to
her, " In the presence of these witnesses go and
bring thy son, that they may be able to see and
believe that he was raised up by the power of God ;
the other shall see it and perish." And Peter said
to the young men, " We need young men, espe-
cially such as shall believe," And at once thirty
young men offered themselves to carry the widow
and to fetch her dead son. When the widow had
recovered, the young men lifted her up. But she
cried and said, " Behold (my) son, the servant of
Christ has sent for thee," and she tore her hair and
scratched her face. And the young men which had
come looked at the nose of the boy, whether he
were really dead. When they perceived that he
was dead, they comforted his mother and said, " If
thou really believest in the God of Peter, we will
lift him up and bring him to Peter that he may
revive him and restore him to thee."
^'^ Comp. Lnke VH, ii sq.
ACTS OF PETER 99
26. While the young men were thus speaking,
the prefect in the forum looked at Peter and said,
" What sayest thou, Peter ? Behold, the lad is
dead; the emperor liked him, and I spared him not.
I had indeed other and many young men; but I
trusted in thee and thy Lord whom thou proclaim-
est, if indeed ye are sure and true: therefore I de-
sired him to die." And Peter said, " God is
neither tempted nor disparaged. But the Most
Beloved (and) he who is to be worshipped with
the whole heart, will hear those which are worthy.
Since, however, my God and Lord Jesus Christ is
now tempted among you, although he did so many
signs and miracles through me to turn you from
your sins, revive now, O Lord, in the presence of
all, him whom Simon killed by his touch, through
my voice in thy power." And Peter said to the
master of the lad, " Go, take hold of him by the
right hand, and you shall have him alive and walk
with you." And the prefect Agrippa ran and came
to the lad, took his hand, and woke him up. And
when the multitude saw this, they cried, " There
is only one God, the God of Peter."
27. Meanwhile the widow's son is also brought
on a bier by the young men. The people made
room, and they brought him to Peter, Peter, how-
ever, lifted up his eyes toward heaven, stretched
forth his hands and said, " Holy Father of thy Son
Jesus Christ, who hast given us power to ask and to
obtain through thee, and to despise everything that
is in this world and follow thee only, who art seen
100 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ill a few and wishest to be known in many: shine
round, O Lord, enlighten, appear, revive the son
of the aged widow, who is helpless without her son.
And I take the word of my Lord Christ and say
to thee, young man, arise and walk ^^ with thy
mother, as long as thou canst be of use to her.
Afterward thou shalt be called to a higher ministry
and serve as deacon and bishop." And the dead
rose immediately, and the multitude saw and were
amazed, and the people cried, " Thou, God Saviour,
thou, God of Peter, invisible God and Saviour."
And they spoke with one another and wondered at
the power of a man who with his word called upon
his Lord, and they took (what had taken place)
for their sanctification.
28. When the news had spread through the en-
tire city, the mother of a senator came, and making
her way through the multitude she fell down at
Peter's feet and said, " I heard many people say
that thou art the minister of the merciful God and
that thou dost impart his mercy to all who desire
this light. Impart, therefore, also to (my) son
the light, since I have learned that thou art not
ill-disposed toward any one: since a matron be-
seeches thee, turn not away." Peter said to her,
" Wilt thou believe in my God, through whom thy
son shall rise?" And the mother, weeping, said
with a loud voice, "I believe; Peter, I believe."
The w^hole multitude cried out, " Give the mother
38 Luke V, 23; Vn, 14.
ACTS OF PETER lOI
her son." And Peter said, " Let him be brought
hither into the presence of all." And Peter, turn-
ing to the people, said, " Ye men of Rome, I, too,
am one of you! I have human flesh and I am a
sinner, but I have obtained mercy. Do not imagine
that what I do, I do in my own power; I do it in
the power of my Lord Jesus Christ, who is the
judge of the quick and the dead. I believe on him,
I have been sent by him, and (therefore) I dare
to call upon him (and) to raise the dead. Go,
therefore, thou also, O Woman, and have thy son
brought hither and have him raised." And the
woman made her way through the multitude, ran
into the street with great joy, believed with her
heart, and, coming to the house, she made her
young men carry him, and came back to the forum.
And she told the young men to cover their heads
and go before the bier and carry everything that
she intended to spend for the body of her son in
front of the bier, that Peter, seeing this, might have
pity on the body and on her. Whilst all were weep-
ing, she came to the multitude, followed by a mul-
titude of senators and matrons, who were to see
God's wonderful deeds. And Nicostratus, who
had died was very noble and much liked in the
senate. They brought him and placed him before
Peter. And Peter asked them to be silent, and
said with a very loud voice, " Ye Romans, let a
righteous judgment now take place between me and
Simon, and judge ye who of us believes in the liv-
ing God, this or I. Let him raise up the body
102 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
which is before us and beheve (then) him like an
angel of God. If he is not able, I will call upon my
God. I will give the son alive to his mother, and
(then) believe, that he is a sorcerer and deceiver,
who enjoys your hospitality." When they heard
this, it seemed right to them what Peter had said.
They encouraged Simon, saying, " Show thyself
publicly what thou canst do: either thou convin-
cest (Peter) or thou shalt be convinced. Why
dost thou stand still? Commence."
When Simon perceived that they all pushed him,
he stood in silence. When the people had become
more quiet and looked at him, Simon cried and said,
" Ye Romans, when ye see that the dead is raised,
will you cast Peter out of the city ? " And the
whole multitude said, " We shall not only cast him
out, but also burn him at once." Simon came to the
head of the dead, bowed, and said three times,
" Rise," and he showed the people how the dead
had lifted up his head and moved it, and opened
the eyes and lightly bowed to Simon. And im-
mediately they began to gather wood to burn
Peter. But Peter, having received the power of
Christ, lifted up his voice and said to those who
cried against him, " Now I see, Romans — what
I dared not to say — that you are foolish and silly,
so long as your eyes and your ears, and your senses
are blinded. So far has your mind become dark-
ened that you perceive not that you are bewitched,
since you seemingly believe that a dead man rose
who has not risen. It were sufficient for me, ye
ACTS OF PETER IO3
Romans, to keep silent and to die in silence and to
leave you in the illusions of this world. But the
punishment of the fire which is not quenched is
before mine eyes ; if it therefore seems good to you,
let the dead speak, let him rise ; if he is alive, let him
untie the band from the chin, let him call his mother
and say to you, Bawlers, why cry ye? Let him
beckon to you with his hand. If therefore, you
wish to see that he is dead and you are bound, let
this one step back from the bier, and you shall see
him as you did see him when you brought him,"
And the prefect Agrippa could no longer restrain
himself, but rose and with his own hand he chased
Simon away. And the dead looked as before.
And the people got into a rage and, converted from
the magical spell of Simon, began to cry, " Hear,
O Caesar, should the dead not rise, let Simon be
burned instead of Peter, because he has really de-
ceived us." But Peter stretched forth his hand and
said, " Ye Romans, be patient. I say not that in
case the boy is not raised, that Simon should be
burned; when I say so, you will do it." And the
people cried, " Even if you should not wish it, Peter,
we shall do it." Peter said to them, " If you con-
tinue thereat, the boy shall not rise. We know not
to recompense evil for evil, but we have learned to
love our enemies, and to pray for them that per-
secute us. For should he even repent, it is better.
For God will not remember the evil. Let him,
therefore, come to the light of Christ. But if he
cannot, let him inherit the portion of his father,
104 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the devil. But let not your hands be contaminated.
Having thus spoken to the people, he came to the
boy, and before raising him he said to his mother,
" These young men, whom thou hast set free in
honor of thy son, can as free men (also) obey their
living master. For I know that the souls of some
(among them) will be wounded, should they see
thy risen son and they serve again (as slaves).
But let them all be free and receive their subsistence
as before — for thy son shall rise again — and let
them be with him." And Peter looked at her for
some time awaiting the answer. And the mother
of the boy said, *' How can I do otherwise ?
Wherefore I will declare before the prefect that
they should possess all that which I had to spend
on the corpse of my son." Peter said to her, " Let
the rest be divided among the widows." And
Peter rejoiced in his soul, and said in the spirit,
*' O Lord, who art merciful, Jesus Christ, manifest
thyself to thy Peter, who calls upon thee, as thou
didst always show mercy and goodness, in the pres-
ence of all these who have been set free, that they
may be able to serve. Now let Nicostratus arise."
And Peter touched the side of the lad, and said,
" Arise." And the lad arose, took up his garment,
and sat and untied the chin, asked for the other
garments, came down from the bier, and said to
Peter, " I ask thee, man, let us go to our Lord
Christ, whom I heard speak to thee; he said unto
thee, pointing at me. Bring him hither, for he be-
longs to me." When Peter heard this he was still
ACTS OF PETER 105
more strengthened in the spirit by the help of the
Lord, and said to the People, " Ye Romans, thus the
dead are awakened, thus they speak, thus they walk
rising; they live so long as it pleases God. But
now (I turn to you) who came to see the spectacle:
if you do not repent from these your sins, and from
all your gods which you made, and from all unclean-
ness and evil lust <you shall fgrever be lost; repent
therefore and> ^^ receive the communion of Christ
in faith (that) you may obtain life for eternity."
29. From that hour on they worshipped him
like a god upon their faces, and the sick, which they
had at home (they brought) to be cured by him.
And when the prefect perceived that such a great
multitude adhered to Peter, he asked him to depart.
And Peter bade the people to come into the house
of Marcellus. And the mother of the lad asked
Peter to come to her house. And Peter had
charged Marcellus (to see to it) that on Sunday
he be enabled to see the widows, as Marcellus had
promised, that he might minister unto them with his
own hand. And the lad who had been raised said,
" I leave not Peter." But his mother returned
joyfully and cheerfully to her house. And on the
day after the Sabbath she came into the house of
Marcellus and brought two thousand pieces of gold,
and said to Peter, " Divide these among the vir-
gins of Christ, who minister to Him." But the
lad who had been raised, perceiving that he had
39 The text is deficient; the words within <> are by Lipsius.
I06 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
not yet given anything to anyone, ran to his house,
opened a chest and brought four thousand pieces
of gold, and said to Peter, " See, I also, who have
been raised, offer the double gift of myself from
now on as a living sacrifice unto God."
[Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Peter.] ^
30. (i) And on Sunday Peter spoke to the
brethren and encouraged ^ them in the belief on
Christ. And many senators and knights and
wealthy women (and) matrons were present,^ and
they were strengthened in the faith. There was
also present a very rich woman, named Chryse, be-
cause all her vessels were of gold — since her birth *
she neither used a vessel of silver nor of glass, but
only of gold. She said to Peter, " Peter,^ servant
of God, in a dream ^ he stood by me whom thou
callest God,'^ and said to me, Chryse,^ bring ten
1 Besides the Latin Lipsius gives here also a Greek text
with the heading as given above. The Greek is based on a
Patmos MS. belonging to the 9th cent., and on a MS. belong-
ing to the monastery Batopedi on mount Athos, belonging
to the time between the loth and nth cent. The former com-
mences with ch. 23, the latter with ch. 30. For both MSS.
see Lipsius Prolegomena, pp. LH-LIV. As the Greek text
seems to come nearer to the original, we follow it, noting,
however, the variations in the Latin. The number in paren-
thesis indicates the chapter in the Greek text.
2 Lat. : entreated them to persevere in the belief on our
Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Lat. : came.
* Lat. omits : since her birth.
° Lat. omits : the second Peter.
^ Lat. omits : in a dream.
"^ Lat. : My God stood by me.
8 Lat. : without Chryse.
ACTS OF PETER IO7
thousand pieces of gold to my servant Peter; thou
owest these to him. I have brought them,^ fear-
ing that some evil may come from him whom I saw
and who went to heaven." ^° And having said this,
and laid dovv^n the money, she went away. And
Peter, seeing this, praised God, that the poor should
now be provided for. Some of those present said
to him, " Peter, is it not wrong to have accepted
this money from her? All Rome ^^ speaks of her
fornications, and (it is reported) that she is not
satisfied with one husband ; ^^ she uses even her own
slaves. Have thou therefore ^^ nothing to do with
the golden table, but let everything be sent back to
her, that came from her." ^^ When Peter heard
this, he laughed and said to the brethren, " As to
her conduct, ^^ I know nothing of it; since I have
received this money I received it not without rea-
son,^^ she brought it to me as a debtor ^'^ of Christ
and gives it ^^ to the servants of Christ. For he
has provided for them." ^^
31. (2) And they also brought the suffering to
3 Lat. omits : I have brought them.
I*' Lat. : saw, looking down from heaven.
11 Lat. omits : all Rome.
12 Lat. : she left no man alone.
^3 Lat. for " therefore " : if it seems good to thee.
!■* Lat. erroneously : give her nothing from the table of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but let his fire be sent on her.
1^ Lat. omits : to the brethren, as to her conduct.
1^ Lat. omits : since . , . reason.
1'' Lat. : I received this money from a debtor.
18 Lat. : I give it.
19 Comp. The Talmudic story given in Pick, Paralipomena,
p. Ill f.
I08 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
•him on the Sabbath and asked (him) ^^ to treat
them. And many^^ lame and podagrous were
healed, and such as had fever and other diseases,
and believed on the name of Jesus Christ, and very
many ^^ were gained on that day for the grace of
the Lord. When some days had passed Simon the
Magician promised the people to convince Peter
of not believing in the true God, but in a fallacious
one. As he performed many tricks, those among
the disciples which were steadfast laughed at him.^^
In the dining halls he made some spirits appear,
which had the semblance of life, but in reality did
not live. And what more shall I say unto you?
Having spoken a great deal of magic, he seemingly
cured the lame and blind for a time, and dead per-
sons, too, he made suddenly alive and made them
move about, as well as Stratonicus.^"* In all this
Peter followed him and refuted him before those
20 Lat. omits : asked —
21 Lat. omits : many. —
22 Lat. omits : very many. —
23 Lat. reads : " he seduced not " for " laughed at him."
2* Lat. : Nicostratus. In the Recognitions of Clement II,
9 and Clementine Homilies, IV, 4, Simon speaks of his
miraculous deeds, which resemble those mentioned in the
Acts of Peter. But the author of the Recognitions is not
deceived by them. For though he regards them as true,
he says nevertheless (III, 59) : "he who is of the evil one,
the signs that he works do good to no one ; but those which
the good man worketh are profitable to men." To Simon
Magus can be applied the words of the presbyter by Irenasus
I, 15, 6, with reference to the Gnostic Marcus:
" Thou idol-framer, Mark, and portent-gazer,
Skill'd in the astrologer's and wizard's art,
Strengthening thereby the words of thy false lore,
Dazzling with signs whome'er thou lead'st astray,
Strange handywork of God-defying power,
ACTS OF PETER IO9
who saw it. And as he cut a poor figure, and was
ridiculed by the Romans and lost their confidence
since he promised to do something and could not
do it (it came about) that he said to them, " Ro-
mans, you now think that Peter has overcome me,
as if he were mightier (than I), and pay now more
attention to him. You are mistaken.^^ For to-mor-
row I shall leave you godless and impious ones ^*^
and take refuge with God above, whose power I
am, though having become weak. If, therefore,
you have fallen, behold I stand. I ascend to the
father,^''^ and shall say to him, Me, thy son which
stands, they meant to make sit down ; ^^ however,
I had no deal with them, but returned to myself." ^^
32. (3) And on the following day a still larger
multitude gathered on the via sacra j^^ (i. e., holy
street) to see him fly. And Peter also went to the
place to see the spectacle and to refute him. For
Such to perform thy father Satan still
Affords thee might, by an angelic Power
Azazel : — thee, by the destroyer mark'd
Chosen forerunner of the impious craft."
[Quoted from Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers (ed. Har-
mer, London, 1893), p. 553; the original text is given on p.
539 f-]
25 Lat. : he deceived you.
26 Lat. omits : " leave you . . . ones."
27 Lat. Father of all.
28 Lat. say to him : " thy sons have done wrong to me."
2^ Lat. however I returned to thee.
30 On the Sacra Via and the place of Simon's fall, see
De Rossi, " Delia memoria topografica del sito ove cadde
Simone il mago sulla via sacra," in Bullettino di arclieologia
crisiiana, V, 1867, p. 70 ff. ; Lugano, " Le memorie leg-
gendarie di Simon mago e della suo volata " in Nuovo Bul-
lettino di archeologia cristiana, VL 1900, p. 60 ff.
no THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
when he came to Rome, he confused the people by
his flying. But Peter, who rebuked him, was not
yet at Rome which he misled and deceived, so that
some were driven out of their senses,^^ And stand-
ing on an elevated place ^^ he began to speak upon
seeing Peter : " Peter, now, when I am about to as-
cend in the presence of all who see it, I say to thee,
if thy God is almighty,^^ whom the Jews have killed,
who stoned you, who were chosen by him, let him
show that his belief is of God; ^^ let it be manifested
by this (event), whether it is worthy of God.^^
For I ascend ^^ and will show myself to this people,
who I am." And, behold, he was lifted up,^^ and
they saw him ascending over Rome and over its
temples and hills. And the believers looked at
Peter.^® And beholding the wonderful spectacle,^^
Peter cried to the Lord Jesus Christ, " If thou
allowest him to do what he has undertaken, all
who believed on thee shall be offended, and the
31 The words : " For when he came . . . senses " are
omitted in the Latin.
32 The Latin omits this topographical notice ; according to
the " Passio Petri et Pauli " 51 (Acta Apocrypha, 1, p. 162),
Nero ordered a lofty tower to be made in the Campus Mar-
tins, from whence Simon took his flight. In another Passio
Petri et Pauli 10 (Acta Apocrypha, I, p. 230), the elevated
place is called " mons Capitolinus."
33 Lat. : God can do anything.
34 Lat. : Let it be seen what thy belief is.
35 Lat. omits: let it be manifested . . . God.
36 Lat. : I go to him (or to God, according to Lipsius'
emendation).
3'' Lat. : lifted up suddenly.
38 Lat. omits : and the believers looked at Peter.
39 Lat. : And Peter saw it and wondered at such a spectacle.
ACTS OF PETER III
signs and wonders'**^ which thou hast shown to
them through me will not be believed. Make
haste, O Lord, show thy mercy and ^^ make that he
fall down, become enervated, and die not, but be
prevented from doing damage and break his shank
in three places." And he fell down"*^ and broke his
shank in three places. And they cast stones upon
him, and each went to his home having all faith
in Peter.^^ And one of Simon's friends, Gemellus
by name, from whom Simon had received much —
he had a Greek wife ^^ — quickly ^^ ran away from
the street, saw him with the broken shank, and
said,^^ " Simon, if God's power is broken, shall not
that God, whose power thou art, be darkened ? " ^^
And Gemellus also followed Peter, and said to him,
" I also, wish to be one of those wdio believe on
Christ." And Peter said, " How could I be spiteful,
my brother ?^^ Come and stay with us." And Si-
mon, being in misery, found some who carried him
by night ^^ on a stretcher from Rome to Aricia.
^° Lat. omits : and wonders.
41 Lat. reads : and show to all who adhere to me thy
power, and I pray not that he die, but become somewhat
hurt in his members.
*2 Lat. : and he suddenly fell to the ground.
*3 Lat. : And they stoned him, all believing and praising
the Lord.
** Lat. omits : he had a Greek wife.
45 Lat. omits : quickly.
■*6 Lat. : said to him smiling.
4^^ Lat. : art thou God's power? Who has broken thy
shank? Is it not that God himself, whose power thou
claimest to be?
48 Lat. : brother.
*^ Lat. omits : by night.
112 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
There he remained and stayed ^° with a man
(named) Castor, who on account of his sorcery ^^
had been driven from Rome to Terracina. Being
operated,^^ Simon,^^ the angel of the devil, found
there the end of his life.
33' (4) ^^ Now Peter remained in Rome, and
rejoiced with the brethren in the Lord, returning
thanks day and night for the multitude which was
daily ^^ added to the holy name by the grace of the
Lord.^^ And the four ^'^ concubines of the pre-
fect Agrippa^^ also came to Peter, Agrippina, Ni-
caria, Euphemia and Doris.^^ And they heard the
preaching concerning chastity and all sayings of
the Lord, and repented and agreed among them-
selves to abstain from cohabitation with Agrippa,
but were troubled by him. When Agrippa became
embarrassed^*^ and distressed ^^ — for he loved
^0 Lat. adds : a few days.
^1 Lat. omits : on account of his sorcery.
^- Lat. adds : by two physicians.
^3 Lat. omits : Simon.
5* Here begins the second manuscript, which has preserved
the Greek text of the martyrdom of Peter. (Codex Pat-
mius, 48). Here also commences a paraphrasing Latin
translation of the martyrdom of Peter, known under the
title: " Martyrium beati Petri apostoli a Lino episcopo
conscriptum " and published in Acta apost. apocrypha, I, i-
22. It is independent of the translation of the Act. Ver-
cellcnscs. We call it Linus-martyrdom.
^^ Lat. omits : daily.
^^ Lat. omits : by the grace of the Lord.
^"^ Lat. omits : four.
28 Lat. omits : Agrippa.
29 Lat. omits: the four names; the Linus-martyrdom (p. 2)
has the four names, but writes Eucharia for Nicaria, and
Dionis for Doris.
«o Lat. : and as he troubled them, they made excuses and
thus embarrassed him.
^^ Lat. : and becoming angry.
ACTS OF PETER 1 13
them very much — he had them watched and se-
cretly observed, whither they went, and he found
out that they went to Peter. When they came
(back),®2 j^g S3i(^ |-Q |-hem, "that Christian®^ has
taught you not to have any communion with me.
Know, then, that I will destroy you and burn that
one alive." ^'^ But they were ready to endure any-
thing by the hand of Agrippa, but would no more
suffer themselves to satisfy his. lust ; they had be-
come strong in the power of Jesus.^^
34. (5) And a very beautiful woman, the wife
of Albinus,^^ a friend of the emperor, named Xan-
thippe,*^^ also came to Peter with the other matrons,
and kept away from Albinus. Being in love with
Xanthippe, he became enraged and wondered why
she did no more share the couch with him, and,
mad, like a beast, he intended to kill Peter.*^^ For
he perceived that he was the cause of the separation
from the bed.^^ But many other '^^ women delight-
ed in the preaching concerning chastity and sepa-
rated from their husbands, and men removed the
couches of their wives,'^^ because they wished to
serve God in chastity and purity. And there was
6- Lat. omits : When they came back, and reads : Agrippa
said.
63 Lat. : Peter instead of : that Christian.
6* Lat. : Know, then, that I will destroy you and him.
6^ Lat. : The Lord strengthened them — for : they had
. Jesus.
66 Lat. : Albinus, a very famous man.
^"^ The Linus-martyrium reads Xandips.
6s Lat. : He sought how to destroy Peter.
69 Lat. omits this sentence.
''^ Lat. : other honest women.
■^1 Lat. : and men from their wives.
114 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
a great commotion in Rome/^ and Albinus told
Agrippa what had happened to him, and said,
" Either thou avengest me of Peter, who has ahena-
ted my wife from me,''^ or I shall avenge myself."
And Agrippa said, " I suffered the same, for he
has alienated my concubines." '^^ And Albinus
said to him,"^^ "Why art thou waiting? '^^ Let us
seize him and kill him as an inquisitive man, that
we may get our wives back, and avenge those also,
which cannot kill him, whose wives he has also
alienated."
35. (6) And as they took counsel together,
Xanthippe heard of the advice which her husband
had given to Agrippa, and she sent word to Peter,
and asked him to leave Rome. And the other
brethren, together with Marcellus, requested him
to leave (the city)."^^ But '^^ Peter said to them,
"Shall we run away, brethren?" And they said,
"Nay; only <go away> since thou canst still
■^2 Lat. omits : in Rome. The translation of this whole
sentence reads in the Latin : But when a great tumult had
been made by Albinus, he told the prefect of his wife, and
said to him.
■^3 Lat. : Who has persuaded my wife to become a Chris-
tian.
7* Lat. omits : for he has . . . concubines.
75 Lat. : to the prefect.
'■^Lat: Why doest thou not protect thyself and the rest?
Let us therefore kill him, that we get our wives back — the
rest is omitted.
■^7 Lat. : And Xanthippe arranged a colloquy, and she
sent word to Peter and asked him to leave Rome, that for
the time being the evil one may have no room. The same
the other brethren also said to him.
■^8 From here till toward the end of Chapter 36, there is
a gap in the Latin.
ACTS OF PETER II5
serve the Lord." He obeyed the brethren, and
went away alone, saying, " Let none of you go
with me; I will go alone, after having changed my
garment." When he went outside of the gate, he
saw the Lord come into Rome. And seeing Him,
he said, "Lord, whither art thou going?" And
the Lord said to him, " I go to Rome to be cru-
cified." And Peter said to Him, " Lord, shalt
thou be crucified again ? " And He said, " Yea,
Peter, again I shall be crucified." This was to be
done to Peter.
36. (7) He went again to the brethren and
told them of the vision which he had. And their
souls were sorrowing, and they wept and said, " We
adjure thee, Peter, have regard for us, the younger
ones." And Peter said, " If it be the Lord's will,
it will be, even if we will not. The Lord is mighty
to strengthen you in his faith, and he will establish
you in it and increase it in you whom He has
planted, that you may also plant others through
him. I will not object, so long as the Lord will
keep me alive; and again if He will take me away,
I shall be glad and rejoice."
While Peter was speaking thus and the brethren
wept, four soldiers seized him and brought him
to Agrippa. And being sick '^^ he ordered to cru-
cify him because of atheism. And the whole mul-
titude of the brethren came together, rich and poor,
widows and orphans, low and powerful; they
^8 The Linus-martyrium, p. 10. love-sick.
Il6 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
wished to see Peter and tear him away. And the
people cried unceasingly as with one voice, " What,
has Peter sinned, Agrippa ? What evil has he done
to you ? Tell it to the Romans," And others said
"<We must be afraid > lest the Lord destroy us
also, should he die." And when Peter had come to
the place, he appeased the multitude and said, " Ye
men,^° who are in the service of Christ; ye men,
who hope in Christ, remember the signs and won-
ders, which ye saw^ took place by me ; think of the
compassion of God,^^ how he performed cures for
your sakes. Wait ^^ for him, till He comes and
rewards every man according to his works. And
now, be not angry with Agrippa,^^ for he is a serv-
ant of the powder of his father.^^ And that w^iich
happens takes place as the Lord has told me that
it should happen.^^ And why do I delay, and go
not to the cross? "
37. (8) And when he had come to the cross,
he began to say,®° " O name of the cross, hidden
mystery ; ^"^ O unspeakable mercy, which is ex-
80 Here commences the Coptic text of the martyrdom of
Peter, published by O. V. Lemm in the Bulletin de I'Academie
imperiale des sciences de St. Petershourg, Nouvelle serie, HI
(XXXV), 1894, P- 240-284. It comprises the Greek text of
Lipsius I, p. 90, line 11 to p. 102, line 6.
81 The Coptic: of Christ.
82 Here begins the Latin.
83 Coptic adds : for my sake.
84 Lat. adds : and his tradition. — The Coptic : for he serves
the work of his father.
85 Lat. : and that which happened to me, my Lord has
shown to me before.
86 Lat. omits : and when . . . say.
87 Lat. : every mystery of the cross is dark. Lipsius cor-
rects "every" (omne) and reads: O nomen.
ACTS OF PETER II7
pressed in the name of the cross; O nature of man,
which cannot be separated; O ineffable and insep-
arable love, which cannot be shown by impure
lips ; ^^ I now apprehend thee,^*^ who is standing
at the end of his earthly career. I will make thee
known, as thou art.^*^ I will not hide from me the
mystery of the cross once closed and hidden to my
soul.^^ Ye, who hope in Christ, ^2 think not this
to be a cross which is visible; for entirely different
from that which is visible is this (suffering) in
conformity with the suffering of Christ. And now
especially, since you, who can hear, can (hear it)
from me, who is in the last and parting hour of his
life, listen: Keep your souls from everything which
you can perceive with the senses, from all that seems
to be, and is not in reality.^^ Close these your
eyes, shut these your ears;^^ <keep from you> ^^
the things (which are without). And you shall
perceive what took place with Christ and the whole
mystery of your salvation.^^ But the hour (has
come) for thee, Peter, to deliver thy body to the
88 Coptic omits : O ineffable . . . lips.
89 Coptic : thee with power.
90Lat. omits: I will . . . art.
9iLat. translates: I conceal not that I once desired to
enjoy the mystery of the cross. — The Coptic : the niystery of
the cross which is hidden in my soul from the beginning.
82 The Coptic : Christ, let the cross not be to you only
that as which it appears.
03 Lat. and Linus-mart. omit : and is not in reality.
i*-* The Coptic : the ears of your flesh.
9^ So the Coptic and adopted by Lipsius.
96 Linus-mart. : And ye shall know, that the mystery of
salvation is brought about in Christ through the cross. — The
Coptic : And know what took place with Christ and perceive
the whole mystery of your salvation.
Il8 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
bailiffs/^'^ Take it, whose business it is.^^ Of you,
executioners, I ask to '''^ crucify me with the head
downward, and not otherwise. ^"^^^ And the reason
I shall explain to the hearers." ^^^
38. (9) Having- done as he wished, he began
again: ^"^ "Ye men, whose calling it is to hear,
listen W'hat I, being suspended, am about to tell you
just now. Understand the mystery of the whole
creation and the beginning of all things, as it was.
For the first man whose image I bear, thrown
downward with the head, showed a generation
which did not formerly exist; ^^^ for it was dead,
having no motion. Having been drawn down ^°'*
who cast his origin upon the earth, he established
the whole of the arrangement, ^"^^ suspended it after
the manner of the calling, whereby he showed the
right as the left and the left as the right, and
changed all signs of nature, to behold the ugly as
beautiful and the really bad as good. On this the
Lord says in a mystery : ^^^ " Unless ye make the
right as the left, and the left as the right, and the
top as the bottom and the front as the backward,
97 Lat. : The hour has come to deliver my body.
98 Coptic : take now what belongs to you.
99 Lat. omits: of you ... to.
100 Lat. omits : and not otherwise.
101 Coptic adds : when they shall crucify me.
102 Lat. omits : again.
103 Coptic : revealed first the generation, which had no
existence.
10* Lat. omits : showed a generation . . . drawn down.
105 Lat. omits : he established . . . arrangement.
106 So also Linus-mart. ; the Latin: The Lord himself
says.
ACTS OF PETER II9
ye shall not know the Kingdom (of heaven)." ^^'^
This intelhgence I brought to you, and the manner
of my suspension is the illustration of that man who
was first made. Ye, my beloved, who now hear
it and shall hear it,^°^ you must desist from the
first error and return again. For it was fitting to
come to the cross of Christ, who is the extended
word, the one and only one, concerning which the
Spirit ^'^^ says : For what else is Christ than the
Word, sound of God? "^ That this wood standing
erect, on which I am crucified, be Word ; the sound,
however, is the crossbeam (namely, the) nature
of man ; and the nail which on the erect wood holds
the crossbeam in the middle is the conversion and
repentance of man.
39. (10) " Since ^^^ thou hast made this known
and revealed unto me, O Word (of life), which
has now been called by me wood of life,"^ I thank
thee, not with these lips which are nailed, neither
with this tongue, through which comes forth truth
and falsehood, also not with this wood, which is
produced by the skill of earthly nature, but I thank
thee, O King,^^^ with that voice which is heard
1°'' This saying is found also elsewhere; see Pick, Para-
lipomcna, p. 65. — Linus-mart. : Kingdom of God ; the Cop-
tic : ye shall not come into the Kingdom of God.
10^ Copt. : hear it afterward.
i09Lat. : holy Spirit.
110 The source of this saying is unknown. Perhaps we
should read " cross " for " Christ." The Coptic reads : the
interpretation of the cross is the word, the voice of God.
m Lat. : since, O Lord.
112 Lat. : revealed unto me that it is word of life, which
is now called by me wood.
"3 Lat. omits: O King.
I20 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
through silence, ^^* which is not heard by all, which
comes not through the organs of the body, which
enters not in the world and sounds not upon earth,
which is also not written in books, which is also
not heard by the one, nor by the other,^^^ but with
this (voice), Jesus Christ,^^^ I thank thee: with
the silence of the ^^^ voice which the Spirit meets
within me, who loves thee, speaks with thee, and
sees thee. Thou art knowable only according to
the Spirit. Thou art to me, father, mother, broth-
er, friend, servant, steward. Thou (art) all, and
all (is) in thee; and thou (art) the existence, and
there is nothing that is, besides thee. To him,
brethren, flee you also, and learn that your exis-
tence is in him alone, and you shall then obtain that
of which he said to you : " Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man." ^^^ We now ask (of thee) undefiled Je-
sus/^^ what thou hast promised us ^^^ to give; we
praise thee, we thank thee, we confess thee, in glori-
fying thee, though we are weak, because thou alone
art God,^-^ and none other, to whom be glory ^^^
now and for ever. Amen."
11* Lat. omits : which is heard through silence.
115 Lat. omits : which is also . . . other.
116 Lat. : Lord Jesus Christ.
11^ Lat. : Thy voice.
118 Lat. : of sinful man. — This word which Paul quotes, I
Cor. H, 9, as word of Scripture, as does also Clem. Alex,
(see Pick, Parahpomena, p. 72, No. 33), is here quoted as
saying of Christ.
118 Lat. omits: undefiled Jesus, so also the Coptic.
120 Lat. omits : us.
121 Lat. : Lord.
122 Lat. : honor, glory and power.
ACTS OF PETER 121
40. (11) When the surrounding multitude cried
aloud ^2^ the Amen, Peter, during this Amen, gave
up his ghost to the Lord. ^2^. When Marcellus saw
that the blessed Peter had given up his ghost, with-
out communicating with anyone, which were also
impossible, he took him down from the cross with
his own hands, and bathed him in milk and wine.
And he broke seven pounds of mastic and other
fifty pounds of myrrh and clove and spice and
anointed his body, and filled a very costly trough
of stone with Attic honey and buried him in his
own tomb. And Peter came to Marcellus by night,
and said, " Marcellus didst thou not hear the Lord
say, ' Let the dead be buried by their own dead?
When Marcellus said, " Yea," Peter said to him,
" What thou didst spend on the dead is lost. For,
though living, thou didst care like a dead for the
dead." When Marcellus awoke, he narrated the
appearance of Peter ^^^ to the brethren, and he was
with those who had been strengthened by Peter in
the faith on Christ, strengthening himself now the
more till the arrival of Paul at Rome.^^*^
41. (12) When Nero heard that Peter had de-
parted this life, he blamed the prefect Agrippa that
he had been killed, without having obtained his
consent. For he had the intention to punish him
the more severely, because Peter had instructed
^23 Coptic : aloud with Peter.
124 Lat. omits : Peter, during . . . Lord.
125 Lat. : Peter, the apostle of Christ.
i2« Lat. omits : and he was . . . Rome.
122 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
some of his servants and alienated them from him.
Therefore he was angry, and for a long time he
spoke not with Agrippa.^^^ He sought to destroy
all brethren whom Peter had instructed.^^^ And in
the night ^^^ he sees one ^^^ striking him, and say-
ing : " Nero,^^^ thou art not able now to persecute
or destroy ^^^ the servants of Christ. Keep there-
fore thy hands from them." ^^^ And in conse-
quence of such a vision ^^^ Nero became much
afraid, and let the disciples ^^^ alone at that time,
in which Peter had also left the life.^^^ For the
rest the brethren continued with one accord, rejoic-
ing and glorying in the Lord, and praised the God
and Saviour of our Lord Jesus Christ with the
Holy Spirit, to whom be glory in all eternities.
Amen.^^'^
i"'Lat. omits: And for a long . . . Agrippa.
i"s Lat. omits : brethren . . . instructed.
120 Lat. : And whilst he was thus thinking.
130 Lat. : an angel of God.
131 Lat. : Nero, listen.
132 Lat. omits : or destroy.
133 Lat. : from my servants, if you will not feel, that you
have despised me.
134 Lat. and Coptic omit: and in . . . vision.
135 Lat. : disciples of God and of Christ.
136 Coptic : life in the peace of God. Amen. — The Coptic
ends here.
137 For the last sentence the Latin reads : Peace be with
all brethren, with the readers as well as with the hearers.
The aflfair of the Apostle Peter is ended with peace (and
of Simon). Amen. — The words "and of Simon" are added
by the copyist. The Manuscript of Vercelli adds besides :
" Finished is the epistle of the holy Peter with the magician
Simon. What the port is for the sailor, the last line is for
the writer."
III.
THE ACTS OF JOHN.
Thilo, Fragmenta actuum S. Joannis a Leucio Charino con-
scriptorum, part I, Halle, 1847.
Tischendorf, Acta apostolorum apocrypha, Lipsise, 1851, p.
266-276.
Zahn, Acta Joannis, Erlangen, 1880.
Lipsius, Apokryphe Apostclgeschichten, Braunschiveig, I
(1883), p. 348-542; IT, 2 (1884), 425 ff-
Zahn, Geschichte des neutest. Kanons, II, 2 (1892), 856-865.
Harnack, Geschichte der alfchristlichen Littcratur, I (1893),
124-127; II, I (1897), 541-543-
Corssen, " Monarchianische Prologe zn den vier Evangelien "
(in Texte und Untersuchungen, 15, i (1896), 72-134)
deals not directly with the Acts of John, but tries to
show that the fourth gospel was composed in opposition
to the Acts of John, a view which was opposed by
Jiilicher (Gottinger Gelehrte Anzeigen, 1896, 841-851) ;
H. Holtzmann (Theol. Lift.-Zeitung, 1897, 331-335),
and others.
James, Apocrypha anccdota, II (1897), P- IX-XXVIII, 1-24.
Bonnet, Acta aposfolorttni apocrypha, 2, i (1898), p. XXVI-
XXXII, 151-216.
Zahn, " Die Wanderungen des Apostels Johannes " (in Neue
Kirchliche Zeitschrift, 10 (1899), 191-218.
Forschungen sur Geschichte des neutest. Kanons, 6
(1900), 14-18.
Hilgenfeld, " Das Johannesbild des Lykomedes " (in Zeit-
schrift fuer zfissensch. Theologie, 42 (1899), 624-627.
" Der gnostische und der kanonische Johannes itber das
Leben Jesu " (ibid. 43 (1900), 1-61).
Ehrhard, Die altchristliche Liferatur, I (1900), 158-160.
123
124 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Bardenhewer, Geschichtc dcr altchristUchen Literatur, I
(1902), 437-442.
Schmidt, Die Alien Petrusakten, 1903 (see Johannes-Akten
in the index).
Schimmelpfeng-Hennecke in Hennecke, Netitestamentliche
Apokryplicn, 1904, 423-459; also in Hennecke, Hand-
buch cu den Neutest. Apokryphen, 1904, 492-543.
Leipoldt, Geschichte des Neutest. Kanons, I (1907), 262 ff.
Bardenhewer, Patrology, p. 105 f.
The Acts of John, which have been made use of by
the author of the Acts of Peter and Thomas, belong to the
second century, perhaps to 150-180 A. D. According to Ni-
cephorus, the Acts of John comprised twenty-five hundred
stichoi, or lines, or about the same space as our present
Matthew-Gospel occupies. Unless there is a mistake, we
have about two-thirds of the whole, and it may be said that
of all the Gnostic Acts these seem to have left the greatest
traces on Church tradition. As author the name of Leucius
is generally connected with the Acts of John, for he seems
to have been a companion and an attendant on that apostle
(comp. c. 18 ff., 60-62, 72, III, 115). Several traditions
concerning John, which are mentioned by very early writers,
agree so closely with what we know to have been told in the
Gnostic Acts as to favor the idea that these Acts may have
been the original source of these traditions. But this ac-
count cannot be given of all the stories told about this apos-
tle. For instance, the beautiful story of John and the robber
appears to have been derived by Clement of Alexandria
{Quis dives salv., 42) from some different source; for later
Christian writers, who show independent knowledge of other
things contained in the Leucian Acts, appear to have known
for this story no other authority than Clement.
The Leucian Acts came under discussion at the Second
Council of Nicaea, in 787. They had been appealed to by
the Iconoclasts. In order to discredit their authority, pas-
sages 1 from these Acts were read to the council to exhibit
1 The fragments were collected by Thilo, I. c. ; see also
Zahn Acta, p. 211 f. ; 223; Bonnet, p. XXXI, who mentions
ACTS OF JOHN 125
their heretical character. The Docetism of the Acts comes
out very plainly from this evidence. John is related as in-
forming his disciples among other things that when he tried
to lay hold on our Lord it had sometimes appeared to him
to find solid substance, but not at other times. This passage
is evidently alluded to by Clement of Alexandria (Hypoty-
poses on I John, i, i), who states that he read "in the
traditions " that when John handled the body of our Lord
it offered no resistance, but yielded place to the apostle's
hand. This is one of the reasons for thinking it possible that
these Acts may be as old as Clement of Alexandria. But it
is probable that the Acts of John were in circulation before
the time of Clement. Zahn dates the Leucian Acts of John
as early as 130; Lipsius places them thirty years later. Like
the Acts of Paul, those of John no doubt originated in Asia
Minor.
The Acts as we now have them, are not complete. They
commence with c. 18, and narrate, roughly speaking: i,
arrival and first abode at Ephesus (c. 18-55) ; 2, return to
Ephesus, and second abode (Drusiana narrative, c. 58-86) ;
3, the life of Jesus and his trance (c. 87-105) ; 4, the end of
John (c. 106-115). For this matter, besides the manuscripts,
together with the acts of the second Nicene Council, Bon-
net made use of a number of manuscripts, which he mentions
in the preface. Besides these manuscripts, use has been
made of the work of Abdias, the reputed author of a collec-
tion of apocryphal acts of the Apostles. This Abdias claimed to
have been the first bishop of Babylon, is said to have written
the deeds of the apostles in Hebrew, which his disciple Eutro-
pius translated into Greek and the historian Africanus di-
vided into ID books. The work was edited by Wolfgang
Lazius, Basel, 1551, and often reprinted. The fifth book of
Abdice Episc. Babylonice Historia Certaminis Apostolonim
treats of John, and contains matter which seems to belong
to the original Leucian Acts, and is of greater importance for
tiie reconstruction of the text than the life of John, composed
manuscripts and other works relating to the council-acts.
The same list is also given under the text on p. 151; Hen-
necke, Handbuch, p. 499-501.
126 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
in the first half of the fifth century by a certain Prochorus
(Acts of Apostles, VI, 5), a supposed disciple of John.
Prochorus no doubt perused the Leucian Acts, as can be
seen from a comparison of two manuscripts Q (cod. Paris.
gr. 1468 of the XI cent.) and V. (Vat. gr. 654; XII or XIII
cent.). The narrative of Prochorus is, a Catholic revision of
the Johannine legend. It was first published by Michael
Neander in an appendix to the third edition of his Graeco-
Latin edition of Luther's smaller catechism, Basel, 1567 (p.
526-663), and is now accessible in Zahn's edition (Acta Joan-
nis, 1-105).
The beginning of the Acts, c. 1-14, which describes John's
journey from Ephesus to Rome and banishment to Patmos,
which Bonnet puts at the beginning, and c. 15-17, which
describe John's return from Patmos, and which Bonnet puts
below the text, may contain some original matter, though
nothing certain can be ascertained for the present. These
chapters were formerly published by Tischendorf (p. 262-
272). For the benefit of the reader we give these chapters
as they are given by Bonnet (p. 151-160).
Acts of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist
John the Theologian.
1. When Agrippa, King of the Jews, who ad-
vised for peace, was stoned and put to death, Ves-
pasian Caesar, coming with a great army, invested
Jerusalem ; some prisoners of war he took and slew,
others he destroyed by famine in the siege; most
he banished and at length scattered them. And
having destroyed the temple, and put the holy ves-
sels on board a ship, he sent them to Rome, to
make for himself a temple of peace, and adorned it
with the spoils of war.
2. And when Vespasian was dead, his son Do-
ACTS OF JOHN 127
mitian, having got possession of the Kingdom, along
with other wrongful acts, set himself also to make
a persecution against the righteous men. For hav-
ing learned that the city was filled with Jews, re-
membering the edicts given by his father about
them, he purposed casting them all out of the city
of the Romans. And some of the Jews took cour-
age, and gave Domitian a writing, in which the fol-
lowing was written :
3. " O Domitian, Caesar and King of all the
world, as many of us as are Jews entreat thee, as
suppliants we beseech of thy power not to banish us
from thy divine and benignant face; for we are obe-
dient to thee, and the customs, and the laws, and
practices, and policy, doing wrong in nothing, but
being of the same mind with the Romans. But
there is a new and strange nation, neither agreeing
with our customs nor consenting to the religious ob-
servances of the Jews, uncircumcised, inhuman, law-
less, subverting whole houses, proclaiming a man
as God, all assembling together under a strange
name, that of Christian. These men reject God,
paying no heed to the law given by Him, proclaim
to be the Son of God a man born of ourselves,
Jesus by name, wdiose parents and brothers and all
his family are connected with the Hebrews; whom
on account of his great blasphemy and his wicked
foolery we gave up to the cross. And they add
another blasphemous lie to their first one : him that
was nailed up and buried, they glorify as having
risen from' the dead ; besides, they also falsely as-
128 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
sert that he has been taken up in clouds into the
heavens,"
4. At this the King, being affected with rage,
ordered the senate to pubHsh a decree that they
should put to deatli all those who confessed them-
selves to be Christians. Those, then, who were
found in the time of his rage, and who reaped the
fruit of patience, and were crowned in the trium-
phant contest against the works of the devil, re-
ceived the repose of incorruption.
5. And the fame of the teaching of John was
spread abroad in Rome; and it came to the ears of
Domitian, that there was a certain Hebrew in
Ephesus, John by name,^ who spread a report about
the empire of the Romans, saying that it would
cjuickly be rooted out, and that the Kingdom of
the Romans would be given over to another. And
Domitian, troubled by what was said, sent a centu-
rion with soldiers to seize John and bring him.
And having gone to Ephesus, they asked where
John lived. And having come up to his gate,, they
1 According to cod. Vatic. 654 (XI, or XII, cent.) the
Ephesians sent the following report to the emperor after
the destruction of the Artemis-Temple : " To the imperator
Caesar Augustus, the glorious, the triumphator. Be it known
to thee, that a certain man, named John, of Jewish descent
and a Galilean according to his religion, has come into
Asia, even into thy devoted city of Ephesus. He has ex-
cited all and turned them away from the religion of the
fathers, and made them follow him, so that a strange name
and a strange people originated. And unless you destroy
him quickly, you will lose the people and the country."
When the Emperor Hadrian heard this, he sent swift-footed
soldiers to fetch the apostle. — This report differs from the
contents in ch. 3 given above.
1
ACTS OF JOHN 129
found him standing before the door; and, thinking
that he was the porter, they inquired of him where
John Hved. And he answered and said : I am he.
And they, despising his common, and low, and
poor appearance, were filled with threats, and said :
Tell us the truth. And when he declared again
that he was the man they sought, the neighbors
moreover bearing witness to it, they said he was to
go with them at once to the king in Rome. And
urging them to take provisions for the journey, he
turned and took a few dates, and straightway went
forth.-
6. And the soldiers, having taken the public con-
veyances, travelled fast, having seated him in the
midst of them. And when they came to the first
change, it being the hour of breakfast, they en-
treated him to be of good cheer, and to take bread,
and eat with them. And John said : I rejoice in
soul indeed, but I care not for any food. And they
started, and were carried along quickly. But when
it was evening they stopped at a certain inn ; and as,
besides, it was the hour for supper, the centurion
and the soldiers being most kindly disposed, en-
2 The Vatican recension tells us that when the soldiers
had come to Ephesus and asked for John the Galilean, they
" were shown our cell. And when they entered they found
the theologian and asked him : Art thou John the Galilean ?
He said : I am he. But when they saw the virtue of the
man and his modest and quiet demeanor, as well as his
noble countenance, they were afraid, and respectfully said to
him; 'The King of the Romans wants thee; come, go with
us.' Upon hearing this, John gets up quickly, takes his pal-
lium, together with about two handfuls of dates, and says
to them : ' Come, let us go.' "
130 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
treated John to make use of what was set before
them. But he said that he was very tired and in
want of sleep more than any food. And as he did
this every day, all the soldiers were struck wuth
amazement, and were afraid lest John should die,
and involve them in danger. But the Holy Spirit
showed him to them as more cheerful. And on the
seventh day, it being the Lord's day, he said to
them : Now it is time for me also to partake of food.
And having washed his hands and face, he prayed,
and brought out the linen cloth, and took one of the
dates and ate in the presence of all.
7. And when they had ridden a long time they
came to the end of their journey, John thus fasting.
And they brought him before the king and said :
Worshipful King, we bring to thee John, a god, not
a man ; for, from the hour in which we appre-
hended him, to the present, he has not tasted bread.
At this Domitian being amazed, stretched out his
mouth on account of the wonder, wishing to salute
him with a kiss ; but John bent down his head, and
he kissed his breast. And Domitian said, " Why
hast thou done this? Didst thou not think me
w^orthy to kiss thee?" And John said to him:
It is right to adore the hand of God first of all, and
in this way to kiss the mouth of the king; for it is
written in the holy books : " The heart of the King
is in the hand of God."^ ^
3 Prov. XXI, I. — The Vatican recension narrates that John
kissed the King's head and breast. The King says to him :
" Why did you kiss me ; I am only a man, and thou teachest,
ACTS OF JOHN 13I
8. And the King said to him : Art thou John,
who said that my Kingdom would speedily be up-
rooted, and that another King, Jesus, was going to
reign instead of me? And John answered and
said to him : Thou also shalt reign for many years
given to thee by God, and after thee very many
others ; and when the times of the things upon earth
have been fulfilled, out of heaven shall come a King,
eternal, true, Judge of living and dead, to whom
every nation and tribe shall confess, through whom
every earthly power and dominion shall be brought
to nothing, and every mouth speaking strange
things shall be shut. This is the mighty Lord and
King of all breath and flesh, the Word and Son of
the living One, who is Jesus Christ.
9. At this Domitian said to him : What is the
proof of these things? I am not persuaded by
words only ; words are a sight of the unseen. What
canst thou show in earth or heaven by the power of
him who is destined to reign, as thou sayest ? For
he will do it, if he is the Son of God. And imme-
diately John asked for a deadly poison. And the
King having ordered poison to be given to him,
as I hear, that all men worship and adore a heavenly God."
John replied : " Because it is written, ' the heart of the King
is in the hand of God ' and again, ' the hand of the Lord
is over the King's head.' For this reason I kissed thy
breast and head." The King being pleased with John's an-
swer, said to him, " I heard concerning thee that thou didst
excite all people, especially that of the Ephesians, by de-
ceptions and magical arts. Thou also preachest a strange
God and adorest him instead of the true gods, which we
worship. Meanwhile I will try and find out whether the
God, whom thou preachest, will help thee."
132 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
they brought it on the instant. John therefore hav-
ing taken it, put it into a large cup, and filled it with
water, and mixed it, and cried out with a loud voice,
and said : In thy name, Jesus Christ, Son of God,
I drink the cup which Thou wilt sweeten, and the
poison in it do Thou mingle with the Holy Spirit,
and make it become a draught of life and salvation
for the healing of soul and body, for digestion and
harmless assimilation, for faith not to be repented
of, for an undeniable testimony of death as the cup
of thanksgiving.^
10. And when he had drunk the cup, those
standing beside Domitian expected that he was go-
ing to fall to the ground in convulsions. And when
John stood, cheerful, and talked with them safe,
Domitian was enraged against those who had given
him the poison, as having spared John. And they
swore by the fortune and health of the King, and
said that there could not be a stronger poison than
this. And John perceiving what they were whis-
pering to one another, said to the King: Do not
take it ill, O King, but let a trial be made, and thou
shalt learn the power of the poison. Let some con-
demned criminal be brought from the prison. And
* According to the Vatican recension the King orders a
magician, an excellent worker of the devil, to come, and
says to him : Prepare for me such a deadly poison, that he
who touches it, dies within an hour. The magician does as
he is bidden and brings the poison to the King. The King
says : " Let it be given to John the Galilean." The magician
fills the cup and gives it to John. He takes the poison,
makes the sign of the cross over it, calls upon the Lord
Jesus Christ and drinks it as with great pleasure.
1
ACTS OF JOHN 133
when he had come, John put water into the cup, and
swirled it round, and gave it with all the dregs to
the condemned criminal. And he, having taken it
and drunk, immediately fell down and died.^
II. And when all wondered at the signs that
had been done, and when Domitian, seized by fear,
intended to retire and go to his palace, John said to
him : O, Domitian, King of the Romans, didst
thou contrive this, that, thou being present and bear-
ing witness, I might to-day become a murderer?
What is to be done about the dead body which is ly-
ing? And he ordered it to be taken and thrown
away. But John, going up to the dead body, said,
O God, Alaker of the heavens. Lord and Master of
angels, of glories, of powers, in the name of Jesus
Christ, Thine only begotten Son, give to this man
who has died for this occasion a renewal of life, and
restore him his soul, that Domitian may learn that
the Word of God is much more powerful than poi-
son, and is the ruler of life. And having taken him
by the hand, he raised him up alive, ^
5 The Vatican recension narrates : The King and the magi-
cian and all standing beside the King are amazed at t'l;
non-effect of the poison. The King is enraged against !!■'
magician, as having spared John. But John saith to hi:::
" The poison is deadly ; but Christ, my God, who said : ; ■'
those who believe on him shall drink something deadly^ it
shall not hurt them, has made this also and all arts i-f
the devil and his servants of no effect. But if thou, O
King, wilt know the truth of those words, let some con-
demned criminal, etc., etc.
*5_The Vatican recension reads: When the king and all
beside him saw this, they were greatly afraid. Saith John :
" Since I am the cause of the death of this man, it is my
duty to revive him by prayer." Having stood there for one
134 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
12. And when all were glorifying God, and
wondered at the faith of John, Domitian said to
him: I issued a decree of the senate, that all such
persons should be summarily dealt with, without
trial; but since I find from thee that they are inno-
cent, and that their religion is rather beneficial, I
banish thee to an island, that I may not seem myself
to do away with my own decrees. He asked then
that the condemned criminal should be released ; and
when he was released, John said : Depart, give
thanks to God, who has this day delivered thee from
prison and from death.^
13. And while they were standing a certain
home-born slave of Domitian's, of those in the bed-
chamber, was suddenly seized by the unclean spirit,
and lay dead, and it was announced to the King.
And the King was moved, and entreated John to
help her. And John said : It is not in man to do
this ; but since thou knowest how to reign, but dost
not know from whom thou hast received it, learn
who has the power over both thee and thy king-
dom. And he prayed thus : O Lord, the God of
every Kingdom, and Master of every creature, give
hour in prayer, he raised the dead in the presence of the
King and those who were with him.
"^ The Vatican recension reads : When the King and those
with him saw this they feared the God of heaven and many
believed on God and on the apostle. When the King saw
that he had a plausible reason against us, he said to the
apostle : " Since we have accepted the accusation against
thee and the royal edicts demand that the accused shall
not go unpunished, we command that thou be taken for a
time to an isle called Patmos. John said to him: "Do as
you please."
I
ACTS OF JOHN 135
to this maiden the breath of Hfe. And having
praised, he raised her up. And Domitian, aston-
ished at all the wonders sent him away to an island,
appointing for him a set time,
14. And straightway John sailed to Patmos,
where also he was deemed worthy to see the revela-
tion of the end. And when Domitian was dead,
Nerva succeeded to the Kingdom, and recalled all
who had been banished; and having kept the King-
dom for a year, he made Trajan his successor in the
Kingdom. And when he was king over the Ro-
mans, John went to Ephesus, and regulated all the
teaching of the Church, holding many conferences,
and reminding them of what the Lord had said to
them, and what duty he had assigned to each. And
when he was old and changed he ordered Polycarp
to be bishop over the church.^
* The following Bonnet has below the text :
14. Having spent three years in Patmos. . . . After
the king of the Romans had died during the time of the
banishment of John, the apostle, finding no ship in the isle
which left for the shore, took a small boat of cork, put it
into the water, entered the boat, and permitted me also to
go with him. And he made it sail opposite the city of
Miletus. When the sea sees the apostle and beloved disciple
of the Lord, like a good maid it spreads it back under him
and hastens in all piety to bring him to the shore.
15. Having left the sea on a certain point, about 8 miles
from the city of Miletus, he found there a little village.
And he went in and sat himself on a rock; as was his
custom to do among all nations which he taught, so he did
here also. And he enlightened all the inhabitants of the
place by his teaching.
16. From here he went to the city of the Ephesians. On
his way he came also to Miletus. Having performed there
many miracles according to the grace of the Holy Spirit, he
made also many of the inhabitants there disciples of Christ
and citizens of heaven. Some evil-doers arose and caused
136 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Arrival at Ephesus and Work There/
lycomedes and cleopatra.^
(Acta pp. 160-165.)
18. John hastened to Ephesus, induced by a
vision. On this account Daemonicus and his rela-
tive Aristodemus and the very rich Cleobius and the
wife of Marcellus detained him hardly a day at Mil-
etus to rest with him. When they had left early in
the morning, and had almost gone about four miles,
a voice from heaven was heard : " John, thou art
to procure, for thy Lord at Ephesus the glory which
thou knowest, thou and all thy brethren with thee,
and some of those who shall believe there through
thee." And John rejoicing considered within him-
self what it might be that were to happen to him at
Ephesus, and said, " Lord, behold I go according to
Jhy will. Thy will be done."
19. When we came near the city, Lycomedes
the apostle many temptations. They even gave him a deadly
cup to drink, but could do nothing against him. For he
drank the poison at once w^ithout being hurt, and joyfully
continued on his way.
17. The men of that village, hovi^ever, virhere the apostle
had left the sea, built a small house of prayer in honor of
the theologian, placing in the midst the rock on which the
apostle sat and instructed them to worship and to praise
Christ our true God. That rock ceased not to send forth
from time to time a fragrant balm in testimony for all
believers. When we entered into Ephesus all the people
went forth to meet the apostle.
1 The headings are not in the original, but by the trans-
lator, for the convenience of the reader.
ACTS OF JOHN I37
the commander in chief of the Ephesians, a wealthy
man, met us, fell down before John, and asked him
for help, with these words, " Thy name is John ;
the Lord whom thou preachest, sent thee for the
benefit of my wife, which is paralyzed already
seven days and lies past recovery. But give the
glory to thy God and treat her out of compassion for
us." Whilst I was reflecting what to do, a certain
man came to me and said, " Desist, Lycomedes,
from the evil thought which militates against thee,
yield not to it ! For out of compassion for my serv-
ant Cleopatra, I sent to thee a man from Miletus,
named John, who will comfort her and restore her
to thee cured. Delay not, therefore, servant of that
God who announced thee to me, but hasten to the
rattling woman." And John went at once from
the gate with the brethren who were with him, and
followed Lycomedes into his house. And Cleo-
bius said to his young servants, " Go to my relative
Callippus and make yourselves comfortable in his
house — for I come thither with his son — that we
may find everything well arranged ! "
20. When Lycomedes and John had come into
the house, in which was the woman, he (Lyco-
medes) again touched his feet, and said, " See,
Lord, the lost beauty, see the youth, see the much
talked of bloom of my unhappy wife, the admira-
tion of all Ephesus! Woe to me, unhappy one!
I was envied, humbled, the enemy's eye struck me.
I never wronged anyone, although I could harm
many. I was always anxious to experience no sor-
138 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
row or anything like it! Of what use is my care
now for Cleopatra ? What good was it to me, that
I was called godly to this day ? I suffer more than
an ungodly, that I must see thee, Cleopatra, thus
suffering. The sun shall not see me in his circuit,
if you are no more with me. Before thee, Cleo-
patra, I will die. I will not spare my still young
life. I will justify myself before the goddess of
right, how I served her in righteousness, if judg-
ment is to be pronounced against her unrighteous
sentence. I will avenge myself on her by coming
as a shade. I will say to her, thou hast forced me
to leave the light of life, because thou didst rob
Cleopatra. Thou art the cause of my death, by
having prepared for me this fate. Thou hast forced
me to blaspheme Providence by destroying my con-
fidence."
21. And still more spoke Lycomedes to Cleo-
patra, went to her couch, and cried bitterly. But
John drew him away and said, "Abandon these
tears and thy unbecoming words ! It behooves thee
not, who art seeing, to be disbelieving. Know
that thy partner for life will be restored to thee.
Therefore join us, who have come for her sake, and
pray to the God whom thou sawest, when He
showed me to thee in a vision ! What is the mat-
ter, Lycomedes ? Wake up and open also thy soul !
Cast from thee the much sleep! Ask the Lord,
beseech Him for thy wife, and He will support her."
But he fell to the ground and wept dejectedly.
And John said with tears, " Woe to the treachery
ACTS OF JOHN 139
of the vision, woe to the new temptation prepared
for me, woe to the new craft of him who devises
cunnings against me! Has the voice from heaven,
which came to me by the way, yielded to me this,
predicted to me this, what should here take place?
Will it deliver me up to such a great multitude of
citizens, for the sake of Lycomedes? The man lies
here lifeless, and I know not that I shall leave this
house alive. What dost thou intend, Lord? Why
hast thou deprived us of thy good promise? Let
not, I beseech thee. Lord, let not him rejoice, who
rejoices over the sorrow of others. Let him not
dance, who always laughs at us ! But let thy holy
name and thy compassion come quickly! Waken
the bodies of the two, who have fallen to my in-
jury."
22. While John was thus crying, the city of
Ephesus ran to the house of Lycomedes, supposing
that he were dead. And when John saw the great
multitude, he prayed to the Lord : " Now the time
of refreshing and confidence is with thee, O Christ,
now for us weary ones the time of help from Thee,
physician, who heals for nothing. Keep my en-
trance here free from derision ! I beseech thee,
Jesus, help such a great multitude to come to Thee,
the Lord of the universe. Behold the affliction,
behold how they die ! Of those also who came
here on that account, make holy instruments for thy
service, after they have seen thy gift! For thou
hast said thyself, O Christ, ask and it shall be given
you. We therefore beseech thee, O King, not for
140 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
gold, not for silver, not for riches, not for posses-
sion, nor for any transient, earthly gpods, but for
two souls through which thou wilt convert those
present to thy way, to thy knowledge, to thy confi-
dence, and to thy infallible promise. For many of
them shall be saved, after they have known thy
power through the resurrection of the departed.
Give, therefore, hope in thee! Therefore I will go
to Cleopatra and say, Arise, in the name of Jesus
Christ."
22). And he went, touched her face, and said:
" Cleopatra, He whom every ruler fears, and every
creature, power, abyss and darkness and gloomy
death and the light of the heavens and the windings
of the lower world and the resurrection of the
dead and the sight of the blind and the whole
power of the ruler of the world, and the pride of
the prince, he says, * Rise and become not a pretext
for many, who will not believe, and an affliction for
souls, which hope and could be saved.' " And Cle-
opatra cried out at once : " I will rise. Lord,
Save thy handmaiden ! " After she had risen who
for seven days < had been prostrated by an incurable
disease >, the whole city of Ephesus was stirred by
the miraculous sight. And Cleopatra asked for her
husband Lycomedes. John answered, " Cleopatra,
if thou hast a steadfast and firm soul, thou shalt im-
mediately see thy husband beside thee, provided
thou become not excited and confounded over that
which took place, but believest in my God, who
through me will give him to thee alive. Follow
ACTS OF JOHN I4I
me into another room, and thou shalt see him dead
but rising up by the power of God."
24. And Cleopatra followed John into her room,
and saw Lycomedes dead on her account. Her
voice failed, she gnashed her teeth, bit her tongue,
closed her eyes, and commenced to weep. And
silently she looked at the apostle. And John had
compassion for Cleopatra, and, perceiving that she
became neither restless nor excited, he called upon
the full mercy free from presumption, saying,
" Lord Jesus Christ, thou seest that she collects her-
self; thou seest that she imposes restraint on her-
self; thou seest how Cleopatra's soul cries in silence.
For she hides within herself the insufferable grief.
And I know that she will die yet because of Lyco-
medes." And in a low voice she said to John,
" This I have in my mind, Lord, and nothing else."
And the apostle went to the litter, on which Lyco-
medes was, seized the hand of Cleopatra, and said,
" Cleopatra, because of the people which stand by
and because of thy relatives which have come, call
to thy husband, * Arise, and glorify God's name, be-
cause He gives the dead to the dead ! ' " And she
went and spoke to her husband as she was told, and
immediately she raised him. Having risen, he fell
down and kissed the feet of John. And he lifted
him up and said, " Man, kiss not my feet, but God's ;
by whose power both of you have risen ! "
25. And Lycomedes said to John, " I beseech
and adjure thee by the God in whose name thou hast
revived us, abide with us with all thy companions."
142 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
In like manner did also Cleopatra. And John an-
swered, " To-morrow I will be with you." And
they said again to him, " We have no hope in thy
God, but would be revived in vain, if thou didst not
abide with us." And Cleobius, Aristodemus and
Daemonicus, grieved to the very heart, said to
John, " Let us abide with them, that they remain
unmolested with the Lord ! " So he remained with
the brethren.
THE PICTURE OF JOHN.
(Acta pp. 165-167.)
26. And a great multitude gathered together for
the sake of John. And while he was preaching to
those present, Lycomedes, who had a talented
painter as friend, hastily went to him and said,
" Thou seest that I have come to thee. Come
quickly to my house, and whom I shall point out,
paint him without him perceiving it. And the
painter gave the necessary instruments and colors
to some one, and said to Lycomedes, " Point him
out to me, and care not for the rest ! " And Lyco-
medes pointed out John to the painter, and brought
him into a room close by, from which the apostle of
Christ could be seen. And Lycomedes ate bread
with the blessed, united in faith and in the knowl-
edge of our God ; but rejoiced still more that he was
to have him in that picture.
2y. On the first day the painter made the out-
line and left ; on the following day he completed tlie
ACTS OF JOHN 143
picture and gave it to Lycomedes, who rejoiced.
He took it, put it in his bedchamber, and crowned it.
And John, who perceived this afterward, said to
him, " My beloved child, what art thou doing, when
upon leaving the bath thou goest alone into thy bed-
chamber? Do I not pray with thee and the other
brethren ? Or dost thou hide something from us ? "
Thus speaking, he entered into the room with him.
And he saw the crowned picture of an old man, and
beside it candlesticks and an altar before it. And
he said to him, " Lycomedes, what does this picture
mean to thee? Is the painted one of thy gods? I
see that thou art still living like a heathen ! " Ly-
comedes replied, " Only he is my God who has re-
vived me and my wife from the dead. But if one is
permitted next to God to call those gods, who are
our benefactors, then it is thou, father, who art
painted in the picture, whom I crown, love, and
worship is him who has become my good guide."
28. And John who had never yet seen his own
face, said to him, " Thou mockest me, child. Do I
look thus . . . ? How wilt thou convince
me that the picture is like me ? " And Lycomedes
brought a mirror. And when he (John) saw him-
self in the mirror, he said, " As the Lord Jesus
Christ lives, the picture is like me.^ child, but like
1 It was this part of the Acts (ch. 27, 28, as far as like
me), to which the iconoclasts had referred at the synod of
Constantinople in the year 754. This induced the fathers of
the second Nicene council in 787 to examine the origin of
that supposed apostolic testimony and to show that it was
rather taken from the pseudepigraphical journeys of the
holy apostles. The heretical character of the apocryphon
144 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the picture of my body. For if that painter, who
imitated this my face in the picture, will paint me,
he would now lack the colors given to thee as w^ell
as tables and opportunity (?) and access (?) and
carriage and form and age and youth and every-
thing visible.
29. " But be thou, Lycomedes, a good painter to
me. Thou hast colors, which Jesus gives thee
through me, who paints all for himself, who know^s
the shape and form and gesture and disposition and
image of our souls. And the colors which I charge
thee to lay on are as follows : Belief in God, knowl-
edge, fear of God, love, communion, meekness,
goodness, brotherly love, chastity, integrity, firm-
ness, fearlessness, freedom from sorrow, honesty,
and the whole chorus of colors, which represents
thy soul in the picture, and supports at once thy
prostrated members which rose, but appeased, deliv-
ered from plagues, heals thy w^ounds, arranges thy
entangled hair, washes thy face, trains thy eyes,
purifies thy heart, empties thy stomach, and muti-
lates the abdomen. In short, if all such colors are
combined and mixed in thy soul, they will make it
bold, intrepid, and firm, and bring it to our Lord
was shown from the quotation of two other fragments from
the same work. The synod prohibited the copying of the
abominable book and declared it worthy to be burnt. The
fragment used by the iconoclasts .is found in the Acts of the
Nicene Synod (Harduin TV, 296; Mansi, XHI, 168; also
in Acta Concilii edita a Ph. Lalibe et G. Cossart, tom. VH,
Parisiis a. 1671, made use of by Bonnet, who also refers
(p. XXXI), to different manuscripts and the Latin trans-
lation by the librarian Anastasius). The Greek text of
Harduin is reprinted by Zahn, p. 223, 224.
ACTS OF JOHN 145
Jesus Christ. But what thou hast clone now is
childish and imperfect: thou didst paint the dead
picture of a dead."
HEALING OF THE OLD WOMEN.
(Acta pp. 167-169).
30. And he ordered brother Berus, who minis-
tered unto him to bring all the old women of all
Ephesus, whilst he himself and Cleopatra and Lyco-
medes made the necessary preparations. And Be-
rus came and told John, "Of the old women which
live here, I only found sixty-four in a healthy state ;
of the rest some are paralyzed and some otherwise
sick." When John had heard it, he remained silent
for some time, rubbed his face, and said, " O, of the
indolence of those who dwell in Ephesus ! O, of
the despair and weakness (in the faith) in God!
O, of the devil who mocked in course of time at the
believers in Ephesus ! Jesus, who gives me grace
and the gift to trust in Him, speaks now quietly to
me : ' Have the sick women brought, come with
them to the theatre, and heal them through me!
For of those which will come to this spectacle are
some which I will convert by such cures, that they
may be of some use.' "
31. When all the people had met at Lycomedes'
house on account of John, he took leave of them,
saying, " All of you who wish to know the power of
God, come to the theatre ! " On the following day,
it being yet dark, the people ran to the theatre. The
146 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
proconsul also hastened thither, and sat among the
people. A captain, Andronicus, at that time one of
the most prominent Ephesians, said, " John has
promised impossible and incredible things. But,"
said he, "if he can (really do) of what I hear he
boasts, let him come to the theatre naked, without
having anything in his hand ; let him also pronounce
that magic name which I heard him call upon ! "
32. Upon hearing this and moved by these
words, John had the old women brought to the the-
atre. When they were brought there, all resting on
couches, some being asleep, and after the whole
city had gathered together, amidst the greatest si-
lence John opened his mouth and spoke thus :
33. " Men of Ephesus, know ye first why I tarry
in your city, or what is my confidence over against
you, which is so strong that it even became known
to this assembly, to all of you. I have not been
sent with a human message, and I went not into a
distant land with a hopeless task. I am no mer-
chant who buys or exchanges goods, but Jesus
Christ, whom I preach, will according to His mercy
and goodness through me convert you entirely and
deliver you from your aberration, who are domi-
neered by unbelief and are sold into ignominious
lusts. By His power I will also confound your
captain in his unbelief by raising up those who are
before us, whose external condition and diseases
are visible to you all. And this I cannot now (at-
tain), when they perish, and healed, they shall be
raised.
ACTS OF JOHN I47
34. " One thing, however, I would in the first
place implant into your ear, why I have come to you,
the care for your souls, that you think not that this
time last to all eternity, which is rather a time of the
yoke, and that you lay not up for yourselves treas-
ures upon earth, where everything passeth away.
Think also not, if you have children, to rest in them,
and seek not to rob and defraud on their account !
Mourn also not, ye who are poor, if you cannot
serve the lusts ! For even those who can do it, call
you happy, when they are sick. And ye who are
rich, rejoice not because you have more treasures!
For their possession causes you unlimited sorrow,
when you have lost them. And again, when you
have them, you must be afraid that on their ac-
count some one might kill you.
35. " And thou who art of bodily beauty, and
with proud confidence liftest up thy countenance,
thou at least wilt only see the end of the promise,
when thou comest to the grave. Thou who delight-
est in adultery, know that law and nature revenge
themselves on thee, and above all the conscience!
And thou, adulteress, which didst trespass against
the law, thou knowest not whither thou wilt go.
and if thou didst keep thy treasures without helping
the poor, having left this body and being in the
flames of the (hellish) fire, thou shalt find no one
that will have mercy on thee when asking 'for
mercy. Thou who art passionate and raging, know
that thou livest like brutes ; thou drunkard and
148 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
brawler, perceive that thou losest thy senses by serv-
ing a vile, filthy passion !
36. " Thou hast thy pleasure in gold and ivory,
and precious stones delight thee, but seest thou what
thou lovest, after the night has set in? Thou de-
lightest in soft raiment ; but being departed out of
this life, will it also help thee in the place whither
thou goest? Thou murderer, know that the mer-
ited punishment is doubly preserved for the time
after the separation from here! In like manner ye
also, ye poisoners, sorcerers, robbers, defrauders,
sodomites, thieves, and all who belong to that cho-
rus, accompanied by your works, ye shall go into
the fire that never shall be quenched, to the greatest
darkness, to the place of torture of the abyss, and to
eternal damnation. Therefore, men of Ephesus, re-
pent ; understand this also that the kings, the rulers,
the tyrants, the boasters, the victors in wars, naked
depart from this world, to suffer pains in everlast-
ing torments ! "
2^^. Having thus spoken, John healed all the
diseases by the power of God.
DESTRUCTION OF THE ARTEMIS TEMPLE
{Acta pp. 169-173.)
And the brethren from Miletus said to John,
" We remained a long time at Ephesus. If it seem-
eth good to thee, let us also go to Smyrna. For we
already hear that the wonderful works of God have
there also been heard of." And Andronicus said.
ACTS OF JOHN 149
" If it pleases the master, then let us go ! " John
said, " First let us go to the temple of Artemis !
For there also in consequence of our coming we
shall be able to find ministers of the Lord."
38. After two days the birthday of the idol's
temple was celebrated. While all were dressed in
white garments, John put on a black one and went
to the temple. They laid hold of him and tried to
kill him. But John said, " Men, ye are mad, by
laying hold of me, the servant of the only God."
And ascending a platform he spoke to them :
39. " Men of Ephesus, ye are in danger of hav-
ing the character of the sea. Every discharging
river and every precipitating spring, downpours and
compact waves and torrents rushing from the rock,
are permeated by the bitter salt which is in the sea.
Thus to this day you are unchangeably hostile to
true piety, and by degrees you perish in your old
idolatry. How many miraculous deeds did you see
me perform, how many cures ! And still you are
hardened in the heart and cannot look up. What
now, men of Ephesus? I ventured now to come
down to this idol's temple, to convince you that you
are wholly without God and dead through human
reasonings. Behold, here I stand. You all assert
that Artemis is powerful. Pray to her, that I alone
die ! Or if you cannot accomplish this, I alone will
call upon my God to kill you all on account of your
unbelief."
40. Since they already knew him and had seen
how the dead woke up, they cried aloud, " Deal not
150 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
thus with us and kill us, we beseech thee, John ; we
know, indeed that thou canst do it." And John an-
swered them, "If you wish not to die, let me con-
vince you of your idolatry, and why? That ye
may desist from your old error. Be now con-
verted above all through my God — or I will die
through your goddess. For I will pray before your
face to my God, and ask him to have mercy upon
you."
41. After these words he prayed thus: "God,
who art God above all so-called gods, who to this
day has been despised at Ephesus, thou didst induce
me to come to this place, which I never had in view.
Thou hast abrogated every worship of the gods
through conversion to thee. In thy name every
idol, every demon, and every unclean spirit is ban-
ished. May the deity of this place, which has de-
ceived so many, now also give way to thy name, and
show thus thy mercy on this place ! For they walk
in error."
42. And with these words of John the altar of
Artemis suddenly cleft into many parts, and the ob-
lations put up in the temple suddenly fell to the
ground, and what happened to be good (?) broke,
also more than seven of the idols. And half of the
temple fell down, so that the priest also, when the
roof came down, was killed by one stroke. And
the people of the Ephesians cried, " There is only
one God, that of John, only one God who has com-
passion for us ; for thou alone art God ; now we have
become converted, since we saw the miraculous
ACTS OF JOHN 151
deeds. Have mercy upon us, God, according to
thy will, and deliver us from our great error."
And some of them were on their faces and cried;
others bent their knees and prayed. Others, again,
rent their garments and lamented; still others tried
to escape.
43. And John lifted up his hands and prayed
with uplifted soul to the Lord : " Glory be to thee,
my Jesus, true, only God, that procurest servants for
thee in manifold manner! " And after these words
he spoke to the people : '' Rise up from the ground,
men of Ephesus, pray to my God, and know how
His invisible power was made manifest and his mi-
raculous deeds took place before your eyes! Arte-
mis herself should have helped. Her servant
should have received help from her and not
die. Where is the power of the deity? Where the
sacrifices (offered to her)? Where the birthday?
Where the festivals ? Where the wreaths ? Where
the great enchantment and the poisoning congenial
to it ? "
44. And the people rose up from the ground and
made haste to destroy also the remainder of the
temple, crying, '* We know that the God of John is
the only one, and henceforth we worship him, since
we have obtained mercy from him." And as they
came down, many of the people touched John, say-
ing, " Help us, John, help us who die useless !
Thou seest our intention ; thou seest how the multi-
tude following thee cleaves to the hope in thy God.
We saw the way, which we have gone astray, when
152 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
we lost it. We saw that our gods are erected in
vain. We saw the great disgraceful laughing over
them. But give us, we beseech thee, that help
comes to us without hindrance, when we have come
to our houses ! Receive us, who are in anxiety ! "
45. John answered them, " Men, believe that for
your sakes I remained at Ephesus, although I was
anxious to go to Smyrna and the other cities, that
the people there become converted to Him as serv-
ants of Christ. But when I was about to leave and
my mind was not yet completely composed with re-
gard to you, I remained in prayer to my God and
asked Him to leave Ephesus only after I have
strengthened you. Since I have perceived that this
is done, and still more, I shall not leave till I have
weaned you like children from the milk of the nurse,
and have set you upon a firm rock."
THE RAISING OF THE PRIEST.
(Acta pp. 173-175)-
46. Thus John remained with them, and re-
ceived them in the house of Andronicus. And one
of those gathered there and placed the body of the
Artemis priest, whose relative he was,^ before the
gate, and had quickly come in with the others, with-
out saying anything to anyone. After John had
preached to the brethren, prayed, thanked and
1 According to Cod. O (Pares, grasc. 1468, Xlth cent.), he
is a brother of the dead priest ; and the raising takes place at
Smyrna.
ACTS OF JOHN 153
blessed everyone by laying on of hands, he said,
moved by the Spirit, " Here is one, brought hither
through the faith in God, who put the priest of Ar-
temis before the gate and afterward came in, be-
cause in the desire of his soul he regarded the care
for his soul as the first, and thought thus within
himself: It is better to care for the living than for
the body of my relative. For I know that by turn-
ing to the Lord and saving my soul John will not
refuse to raise the dead." And John rose from his
place and went to that which the relative of the
priest had occupied with these thoughts, and, taking
him by the hand, he said, " Were these not thy
thoughts, as thou camest to me, child ? " And he
answered tremblingly, " Yea, lord ! " and fell down
at his feet. And John said, " Our Lord is Jesus
Christ, who will prove His power on the body of
thy relative by raising him."
47. And lifting up the young man, he took him
by the hand, and said, *' It is not a great task for a
man who is lord over great mysteries to bother him-
self with small things. Or is it something great to
drive away bodily diseases ? " And still holding
the young man by the hand, he said, " I say to thee,
son, arise, and raise the dead without saying any-
thing (else) than only this: The servant of God,
John, says to thee. Arise ! " And the young man
went to his relative and said in the presence of much
people these words only, and then returned with the
living to John. When he saw him who had been
raised, he said, " Thou that hast been raised art in-
154 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
deed not living, and art not partaker and heir of the
true life. Wilt thou belong to Him by whose name
and power thou hast been raised ? Believe now and
thou shalt live in all eternity." He immediately be-
lieved in the Lord Jesus and followed John.
THE PARRICIDE.
(Aa. pp. 175-179)-
48. On the following day, having seen himself
in a vision walking three miles outside of the gates,
John hesitated not, but rose early in the morning,
and went away with the brethren. And a young
farmer, having been admonished by his father not to
take to himself the wife of his colaborer, whilst the
other threatened to kill him, was offended at his
father's warning, and suddenly killed him. When
John perceived what had taken place, he said to the
Lord, " Lord, hast thou on this account bidden me
to come here to-day ? "
49. When the young man saw the hasty death,
he was afraid of being seized, took the sickle from
his girdle, and hastily ran to the house. When
John met him, he said, '* Stand still, thou most vil-
lainous demon ! Whither art thou running with the
sickle thirsting for blood ? " The young man being
confused, let the iron drop to the ground, and said
to him, " I have committed a very unhappy, inhu-
man deed, and knowingly ; therefore, I resolve to do
myself a more violent and more cruel harm, to die
once for all. For whilst my father always exhorted
me earnestly to lead a chaste and honorable life, I
ACTS OF JOHN 1 55
felt offended at his censure, and struck and killed
him. And when I perceived what had taken place,
I intended to go to the woman on whose account I
had become a parricide and try to kill her and her
husband, and finally myself. For I could not bear
the look of her husband, whilst being executed."
50. And John said to him, " That I may not
give him a chance who in thee laughs and mocks by
my withdrawal and by not caring for thy danger,
come with me and show me where thy father is !
And in case I raise him up for thee, how will I keep
thee awav from the woman which became danger-
ous to thee ? " The young man replied, " By giv-
ing me back my father alive, and by seeing and
hearing him, I will give up the rest."
51. And w^hilst thus speaking, they came to the
place where the body was of the old man, while
other travelers stood by. John said to the young
man, " Unhappy one, not even the age of thy father
hast thou regarded ? " And the other cried, tore his
hair, and confessed he felt sorry. But the servant
of the Lord, John, prayed, " Thou who has this
day shown me the way thither, who knowest that
this deed was to take place, before whom no deed in
human life can be hidden, who didst grant to me
every healing and salvation according to thy will,
grant to me also that the old man may live, since
thou seest how the murderer became his own judge !
And do thou alone spare him, O Lord, although he
did not spare his father, because he received from
him such g-ood advice ! "
156 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
52. After these words he went to the old man
and said, " My Lord shall not be powerless to ex-
tend to thee his good compassion and his mercy
devoid of presumption. Arise, therefore, and
give God the honor in the present work." And
the old man said, " I rise up, lord." And he arose,
and, having raised himself, he said, " I was deliv-
ered from a life of the most fearful pain, who had
to suffer the many fearful abuses and unkindness
of my son ; and now, man of the living God, thou
hast called me back — (and) to what purpose?"
<John replied: " If > thou risest up to the same
purpose, thou hadst done better to remain dead.
But rise up to a higher purpose ! " And he took
him, brought him to the city, and preached to him
of the mercy of God, so that the old men believed,
before he came into the gate,
53. And when the young man saw the unex-
pected resurrection of his father and his own salva-
tion, he took the sickle and cut off his privy parts.
And running into the house, where he kept the
adultress, he flung (them) into her face saying,
" On thy account I became a parricide, and ( should
have also) became (a murderer) both of thee and
myself. Here hast thou which is the cause of all.
God have mercy upon me, that I have perceived his
power."
54. He returned to John, and in the presence of
the brethren narrated what he had done. But John
said to him, " He who induced thee, young man,
to kill thy father and to become the lover of an-
ACTS OF JOHN 157
other man's wife, has also represented to thee the
removal of the immoderate members as a right-
eous work. But thou shouldest not have destroyed
the members, but the temper which proved itself
evil through the members. For not the instru-
ments are hurtful to man, but the hidden sources,
by which every shameful inclination is called forth
and becomes manifest. Repent, therefore, my son,
such guilt, and know Satan's cunnings, and thou
shalt have the God, who helps thee in every need
of thy soul." And the young man continued to
lead a quiet life in repentance for his former sins,
that he might obtain forgiveness through God's
goodness, and parted not from John.
55. While performing these deeds at Ephesus,
Smyrnseans sent messengers to him, saying : " We
hear that God whom thou preachest is an unenvious
God, and has bidden thee not to remain in one place
with partiality. Being the preacher of such a God,
come to Smyrna and the other cities, that we may
know thy God, and, knowing him, put our hope in
him!
[Here is a gap in Bonnet's text, but codex Q. has here
the following story, which Bonnet gives under the text.]
JOHN AND THE PARTRIDGE.
(Aa. p. 178-179)-
56. One aay John was seated and a partridge
flew through the air and walked in the sand before
him. John looked at this with amazement. And
158 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
a priest, one of the hearers, came to John, see-
ing the partridge running before him, and said
within himself, fretfully, " Such a great and old
man rejoices over a partridge running in the sand ! "
But John perceived his thoughts and said to him,
" It were better if thou, too, my son, would look at a
partridge running in the sand, and would not con-
taminate thyself with disgraceful and impure acts.
He who expects the repentance and conversion of
all has brought thee hither for that cause. For I
have no need of a partridge running in the sand.
The partridge is 4;hy soul."
57. When the old man heard this and perceived
that he was not hidden, but that Christ's apostle
had said everything which filled his heart, he fell
to the ground and said, " Now I know that God
dwelleth in thee, blessed John. And blessed he
who has not tempted God in thee ! He that tempts
thee, tempts him who cannot be tempted." And
he asked him to pray for him. x\nd (the apostle)
instructed him, gave him commandments, and dis-
missed him, praising the Almighty God.^
1 In a somewhat different form we find the same story in
Cassian's Collat. XXIV, 21 in Bibl. Pair. Max. VII, 246;
reprinted in Fabricius, Bibl. grcec. II, 774 ff. ; Thilo, p. 8.
The narrative reads thus : It is handed down that the most
blessed evangelist John, when once playing with a partridge,
suddenly noticed a hunter coming to him. He wondered
that such a famous man could find pleasure in such trifles
and said to him : " Art thou not that John whose great ce-
lebrity has filled me with the greatest desire to make thy ac-
quaintance? Why, then, hast thou pleasure in such small
things?" John replied: "What is that thing which thou
carriest in thy hand?" "A bow," replied the hunter. "Why
then is it unstrung?" "Because," said the hunter, "were I
ACTS OF JOHN ' 159
Return to Ephesus and Second Abode There.
FROM LAODICEA A SECOND TIME TO EPHESUS.^
(Aa. 179-181).
58. Some time passed without any of the breth-
ren ever being afflicted by John. But now they
were afflicted, when he said, " Brethren, it is time
for me to go to Ephesus — for such is the agree-
ment with those who remained there — that they
become not Hght-minded, being for a long time
without their pastor. But you may direct your
mind to God, who leaves us not." And when the
brethren heard this, they became sad that they
should be separated from him. And John said,
" Though I go from you, Christ is always with you.
If you love him purely, you shall continually enjoy
the blessing of his communion. For though he be
loved, he loved those first who love him."
59. Having spoken thus, and having parted
from them, he left much money to the brethren for
distribution, and went to Ephesus, all brethren be-
ing sorrowing and weeping. Those that were
with him from Ephesus were Andronicus and Drusi-
ana, Lycomedes and Cleobius and their attendants.
to keep it always strung, it would lose its spring, and be-
come useless." " Even so," replied John, " be not offended
at this my brief relaxation, which prevents my spirit from
waxing faint."
1 This heading is found in Codex M (Venetus Marcianus
grsecus, 363, 12th cent.). The following narrative is also
given in Greek by Zahn, Acta Joannis, p. 225 ff. ; see also
ibidem, p. LXXXIII.
l6o THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
They were joined afterward by Aristobula, who
had heard that her husband Tertullus had died on
the way, Aristippus with Xenophon, the chaste
damsel, and many others, whom he always di-
rected to the Lord, and who would no more leave
him.
60. On the first day when we ^ came to a
lonely inn and being in perplexity on account of a
bed for John, we experienced a joke. There was a
bedstead without covers; we spread our cloaks,
which we brought, over it and requested him to lie
down and to rest, whilst we slept on the floor. He
had hardly lain down, when he was molested by bugs.
But as they became more and more troublesome,
and it being midnight already, we all heard him say
to them, " I say unto you, O ye bugs, be ye kindly
considerate ; leave your home for this night and go
to rest in a place which is far from the servants of
God ! " And while we laughed and talked, John
fell asleep. And we conversed gently, and owing
to him we remained undisturbed.
61. When it was day, I rose up first, and with
me Berus and Andronicus. And in the door of the
room which we had taken, was a mass of bugs.
And having gone outside to have a full view of
them, and having called all brethren, John was still
asleep. When he woke up, we showed to him
what we saw. And sitting up in bed, and seeing
them, he said, " Since you have been wise to be-
- The narrator uses in the narrative the first person of the
plural, thus speaking as companion of the apostle.
ACTS OF JOHN l6l
ware of my punishment, come back to your place! "
Having spoken thus, and having risen from the bed,
the bugs hastened from the door to the bed, ran
from between his feet into the joints, and disap-
peared. And John said again, " This animal heard
the voice of a man and kept quiet, without trespass-
ing (against the command). We, however, hear
God's voice, and yet in our light-mindedness we
transgress his commandments. And how long
yet!"
END AND RAISING OF DRUSIANA.
(Aa. pp. 181-193).^
62. After this we came to Ephesus. And
when the brethren who lived there had learned that
John had returned after a long time, they met in
the house of Andronicus, where he also used to
visit, touched his feet, put his hands to their faces,
and kissed them. [Very many also rejoiced by the
touch of his garment, and were healed because they
had touched the garment of the holy apostle.] ^
63. And while there was great love and endless
joy among the brethren, one, a servant, of Satan,
coveted Drusiana, although he saw and knew that
she was the wife of Andronicus. Very many also
1 See also Zahn, loc. cit., p. 226 f. With ch. 62 commences
a parallel narrative by Abdias (histor. apost., V, 4, in Fa-
bricus, cod.^ pseudepigr. Novi Test, ed., 2, II, 542 ff.)
2 There is a gap in the Greek text. The words in [] are
from Abdias. — The following Drusiana-story has been used
by the nun Roswitha of Gandersheim (loth cent.) as theme
in her Calimachus, the best of her dramatic efforts (opp. ed,
Barack, 1858, p. XXXV).
l62 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
remonstrated with him, "It is impossible for thee
to obtain this woman, especially also since she sep-
arated from the communion with her husband out
of piety. Or dost thou alone not know that An-
dronicus, who was not before what he now is,
namely a godly man, had locked her up in a tomb,
saying, " Either I'll have thee as a wife, as I had
thee before, or thou must die? And she rather
preferred to die than to do the act repugnant to her.
Now, if she denied out of piety to her husband and
master her consent to (sexual) intercourse, yea,
persuaded him to become like-minded, should she
consent to thee, who wishes to commit adultery
with her? Desist from thy passion, which gives
thee no rest ! Desist from thy scheme, which thou
canst not accomplish ! "
64. Though his intimate friends remonstrated
with him, they could not persuade him, who was
even so impudent as to send her word. When
Drusiana heard of his disgraceful passion and
shameless demands, she became very despondent,
and after two days she was ague-struck. She said.
" O, if I only had not come back to my native city
where I became a stumbling-block to a man, who
believes not in the worship of God ! For if one were
filled with God's word, he would not fall into such
a passion. Therefore, O Lord, since I became ac-
cessory to a blow which struck an inexperienced
soul, deliver me from this prison and take me soon
to thee!" And without being understood by any-
one, Drusiana, departed this life in the presence of
ACTS OF JOHN 163
John — not rejoicing but sorrowing over the phys-
ical trouble of that (man).
65. And Andronicus was sad, and carried a hid-
den sorrow in his heart, and wept bitterly, so that
John could only silence him by saying to him,
" Drusiana has departed this life for a better hope."
To this answered Andronicus, "Of this I am cer-
tain, John, and I have no doubt in the belief in my
God. But my hopes are mostly grounded on this,
that she departed this life pure."
66. After she was interred, John took Androni-
cus apart, and, having learned of the cause, he sor-
rowed more than Andronicus. And he kept silence,
considering the threats of the enemy, and sat down
a little. When the brethren were assembled to
hear which words he would say concerning the de-
parted, he began to speak :
67. " When the helmsman who crosses the
ocean has landed with the ship and passengers in a
quiet haven free from storms, he feels secure. The
husbandman who gave the seed-grains to the
ground, and cared for them ^^•ith great pains, is only
then to enjoy a rest from his labors when he has
sheltered abundant corn in his barns. Whoever
promised to take part in the race should only re-
joice when he has obtained the price of victory.
Whose name is entered on the list of prize fighting
should only triumph after he received the crowns.
And thus it is with all races and arts, when they
disappoint not at the end, but are so carried out, as
they were intended.
l64 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
68. " Thus, I think, it is with the faith which
every one of us practices, and which can only be
decided as having been the true one when it re-
mained the same to the end of Hfe. For there are
many obstacles which cause unrest to human reas-
oning: cares, children, parents, glory, poverty, flat-
tery, youth, beauty, boasting, thirst for riches,
anger, pride, frivolity, envy, passion, carelessness,
licentiousness, love, slaves, money, pretense, and all
the other like obstacles which exist in life; thus for
the helmsman who takes his course in a quiet jour-
ney, the adverse winds and a great tempest and a
mighty wave, when the heaven is serene; for the
husbandman, untimely weather and blight and
creeping worms appearing from the ground; for
the athletes, the " almost," and for the artists, the
obstacles issuing from them.
69. " The believer must above all things con-
sider the end and carefully examine how it w^ill
come, whether energetic and sober and without
impediment, or in confusion and flattering this
world and bound by passions. Thus one can only
praise the beauty of the body, when it is wholly un-
covered ; and the great general, when one has hap-
pily finished the whole campaign, as he promised,
and the excellent physician, when he has suc-
ceeded in every cure, and so also a soul as filled with
faith and worthy of God if it happily accomplished
that which it promised, not one which made a
(good) beginning, and gradually descended into
the errors of life and became weak; also not the
ACTS OF JOHN 1 65
paralyzed one, which forcedly busied itself with
higher things, and was afterward drawn downward
to the perishable ; also not that which loved the tem-
poral more than the eternal; neither that which ex-
changed the perishable <for the lasting >, also
not that which honored that which was not to be hon-
ored <and loved > works of dishonor; also not
that which accepted pledges from Satan, and re-
ceived the serpent into its house ; not one which was
reviled for God's sake and afterward was ashamed,
neither one which said with the mouth, Yea, but
showed it not by the deed; but one which refused
to be inflamed in filthy lust, to succumb to levity, to
be caught by thirst after money and to be betrayed
by the strength of the body and anger."
70. While John continued to preach to the
brethren, so that they despised the earthly goods
for the sake of the eternal ones, the lover of Dru-
siana, inflamed by the activity of the polymorphous
Satan, to the most ardent passions, corrupted the
greedy steward of Andronicus with much money.
And he opened the tomb of Drusiana and left to
him to accomplish on the body that which was
(once) denied to him. Since he had not procured
her during her lifetime, he continually dwelt in
thought upon her body after she was dead, and ex-
claimed, " Although when living thou didst refuse
to unite with me in love, after thy death I will still
commit a rape on thy body." Being in such a
frame of mind he obtained the opportunity to exe-
cute his impious design through the accursed stew-
1 66 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ard, and both went to the tomb. Having opened
the door, they began to take the graveclothes from
the corpse, and said, " What good was it to thee,
unhappy Drusiana? Couldst thou not have done,
while ahve, that for whose voluntary execution
thou wouldst soon have had no more grief ? "
71. Whilst they thus spoke and only the shirt
remained, there appeared something wonderful,
which people that do such things deserve to ex-
perience. A serpent appeared of a sudden, bit the
steward, and killed him. And the serpent bit not
the young man, but encircled his feet, spitting fear-
fully, and when he had sunk down, the beast sat on
him.
^2. On the following day John and Andronicus
and the brethren, went at the break of day to the
tomb in which Drusiana has been for three days,
that we break the bread there. And when about to
start, the keys were not to be found. And John
said to Andronicus, " Rightly they are lost, for
Drusiana is not in the tomb. Nevertheless, let us
go, that thou appearest not careless, and the doors
will open of themselves, since the Lord has given
us already many other things."
'jT^. When we came to the place, the doors
opened at the master's behest, and at the tomb of
Drusiana we saw a beautiful youth smiling.
When John saw him, he exclaimed and said
" Dost thou forestall us here also, noble one ( beau-
tiful one)? And why?" And he heard (his)
voice saying to him. " For the sake of Drusiana,
ACTS OF JOHN 167
which thou art to raise up — for I had almost
found her defiled and on account of the dead lying
near the tomb." And when the noble one had thus
spoken to John he ascended to heaven before the
eyes of all. And John turned to the other side of
the tomb and saw a young man, the very promi-
nent Ephesian Callimachus — for thus he was
called — and on him a very great snake sleeping,
also the steward of Andronicus, named Fortunatus
dead. Upon seeing both, he stood helpless and
said to the brethren, " What meaneth all this? Or
why did the Lord not reveal unto me what took
place here, who was always concerned for me? "
74. When Andronicus saw these bodies, he
jumped up and went to the tomb of Drusiana,
And when he saw her in her bare shirt, he said to
John, " I understand what took place, blessed serv-
and of God. This Callimachus loved my sister.
And as he could not get her, although he tried it
often, he no doubt bribed this my accursed steward
with much money with the intention — as one can
at least perceive — to accomplish his purpose
through him. For this Callimachus said to many.
If she will not yield to me alive, rape shall be com-
mitted on her death. This, O master, the noble
one saw and did not suffer that her earthly remains
should be violated, wherefore they who endeavored
this are dead. And this the voice which came to
thee, Raise Drusiana ! announced to thee before.
For she departed this life through sorrow. And I
will be convinced by him who had spoken, tjiat this
l68 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
one belongs to the deceived people. For you were
advised to raise him also. Of the other I know
that he deserves not the deliverance. But one
thing I ask of thee. Raise Callimachus first, and
he shall confess what took place."
75. And John looked at the corpse and said to
:he poisonous snake, " Go from him who is to serve
Jesus Christ ! " Then he rose and prayed thus :
" God, whose name is praised by us, as it is meet ;
God, who overcomes each work of the lower
(power) ; God, whose will is done, who always
hears us, make thy grace now also efficacious on
this youth! And if through him some dispensa-
tion is to take place, make it known to us, when he
is raised ! " And the young man immediately arose
and rested for a whole hour.
'jd. Having regained his sense, John asked
what his intrusion into the tomb meant. And hav-
ing learned from him what Andronicus already
told, how he passionately loved Drusiana, John
asked furthermore whether he had accomplished his
wicked design to commit rape on the solemn earthly
remains. And he replied, " How could I have ac-
complished this when this fearful beast killed For-
tunatus by a bite before my eyes — and this ac-
cording to merit, for he encouraged me to such
frantic act, whereas I already desisted from the ill-
timed fearful frenzy — but he frightened me and
put me in such a state in which thou didst see me,
before I arose again? But I will tell thee another
greater miracle, which seized me still more and had
ACTS OF JOHN 169
almost killed me. When my soul was seized with
mad passion and the incurable disease did trouble
me keenly, when I had already robbed her of her
graveclothes with which she was dressed, and went
from the grave to put them down as thou seest, I
turned back to perpetrate the abominable deed.
And I saw a beautiful youth covering her with his
upper garment. Rays of light fell from his face
upon hers, and he turned to me also and said, Cal-
limachus, die, that thou mayest live. Who it was,
I knew not, servant of God. Since thou hast come
here, I perceive that it was an angel of God. And
this I truly know, that the true God is preached by
thee ; and I am sure of it. But I pray thee, see to
it that I may be delivered from such a fate and
awful venture, and bring to thy God a man who
has gone astray in scandalous, abominable deceit.
On my knees I ask thy help. I will become a man,
(one) of those who hope in Christ, that the voice
may also become true, which spake here to me. Die
to live! And it is already fulfilled. For that un-
believer, immoderate, godless, is dead; I am raised
by thee as a believer for the future, < moderate >,
godly, that I may know the truth, which I ask of
you to reveal unto me."
"jj.^ And John, rejoicing, noticed the whole
spectacle of the salvation of men and said, " O
Lord Jesus Christ, I know not how powerful thou
art, I am amazed at thy great mercy and endless
3 This whole section is omitted in Codex M.
170 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
long-suffering. O what greatness descended to
servitude! O unspeakable freedom, which was en-
slaved by us ! O, inconceivable glory, which has
come upon us ! Thou who didst keep the grave
from shame, who became the Saviour of that man
who contaminated himself and didst teach him to
be chaste who < meant to violate > dead bodies.
Father full of mercy and compassion toward him,
who regarded thee not, we praise, glorify, and
honor thee and thank thee for thy great goodness
and long-suffering, holy Jesus, for thou alone art
God and none else, thou, against whose power all
devices can do nothing now and in all eternity!
Amen ! "
78. After these words, John took Callimachus
apart, kissed him, and said, " Glory be to our God,
who had mercy upon thee, child, and deemed me
worthy to praise his power, and delivered thee by a
wise method from that passionate madness and in-
toxication and called thee to rest and renewal of
life."4
79. When Andronicus saw that Callimachus
had been raised from the dead, he and the brethren
besought John to raise Drusiana also, and said,
" John, let her be raised and happily complete life's
short space, which she gave up out of sorrow for
Callimachus, because she thought to be an offense
to him ! And when it pleases the Lord, he will take
her to himself. And without delay John came to the
■* Here and in the following Codex M is deficient.
ACTS OF JOHN 171
grave seized her hand and said, " Thou who alone
art God, I call upon thee, the immense, the un-
speakable, the incomprehensible, to whom all
worldly power is subject, before whom every
might bows, before whom every pride falls down
and is silent, before whose voice the demons are
confounded, at whose contemplation the whole cre-
ation surrenders in quiet meditation. Thy name
will be hallowed by us, and raise Drusiana that
Callimachus be still more established in thee who
alone canst do what is wholly impossible with man,
and hast established the dispensation of salvation
and resurrection, and let Drusiana come out com-
forted from the grave, which in consequence of the
conversion of the youth has no more in herself the
least impediment, to long for thee ! "
80. Having spoken thus, John said, " Drusiana,
arise ! " And she arose and came from the tomb.
And when she saw that she wore nothing but her
shirt, she knew not how to explain it, how it hap-
pened. Having learned .everything from Andron-
icus, while John was upon his face and Callimachus
weepingly praised God, she also rejoiced and
praised God.^
81. Having dressed herself and looking
around, she saw Fortunatus. And she said to
John, " Father, he, too, shall rise, though he tried
ever so much to become my traitor." When Calli-
machus heard her speaking thus, he said, *' No, I
^Here the text ends in Zahn, loc. cit., p. 234.
172 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
pray thee, Drusiana. For the voice which I heard
did not mention him, but only announced thy resur-
rection, and when I saw it, I believed. If he were
good, God would have certainly raised him out of
mercy through the blessed John. He knew that it
is good if the man remains dead." And John an-
swered him, " Child, we have not learnt to recom-
pense evil with evil. For God has not recom-
pensed the evil which we have done unto him, but
has given us (the opportunity for) repentance.
And when we knew not his name, he did not forget
us, but had mercy upon us. And when we reviled
him, he forsook us not, but was merciful. And
when we were disbelieving, he remembered not the
evil. And when we persecuted his brethren, he did
not requite us, but made us repent, turn away from
the sins, and called us to himself, as he called thee
also, child Callimachus, and, without remembering
thy former sins, made thee his servant through his
long-suffering mercy. If thou wishest me not to
raise Fortunatus, let Drusiana do it."
82. Without wavering in the joy of her spirit
and soul, she went to the body of Fortunatus and
said, " God of the aeons, Jesus Christ, God of truth,
thou didst permit me to see signs and wonders, thou
didst give me the grace to partake of thy name.
Thou didst breathe into me thy spirit with thy
polymorphous face, and didst show unto me much
compassion. With thy rich goodness, thou hast
protected me when my former husband, Androni-
cus, did violence to me, and didst give me afterward
ACTS OF JOHN 1 73
thy servant Andronicus for a brother. Until now
thou hast kept me, thy maiden, pure. Me, the
dead, thou didst raise through thy servant John,
To me, which had risen, thou didst show without
offense him who was offended (at me). Thou
didst give me perfect rest in thee, and didst dehver
me from the hidden illusion. I love thee with all
my heart. I beseech thee, Christ, not to dismiss
thy Drusiana without being heard, who asketh of
thee the resurrection of Fortunatus, though he tried
ever so much to become my traitor."
83. And she took the hand of the dead and said,
" Rise, Fortunatus, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ ! " And Fortunatus rose up. And behold-
ing John in the tomb and Andronicus and Drusiana
risen from the dead and Callimachus believing, he
said, " O how far has the power of these awful
people spread ! I wish I were not raised, but re-
mained rather dead, in order not to be obliged to
see them." And having spoken thus he ran from
the tomb.
84. And when John perceived the unchangeable
soul of Fortunatus, he said, " O nature, which did
not turn to the loftier! O source of the soul, re-
maining in the filth ! O property of corruption, full
of darkness ! O death, dancing among those be-
longing to thee ! O forest, with trees full of un-
healthy shoots, neighbor of unbelief! O fruitless
tree, full of fire! O wood, producing the coal as
fruit ! Thou didst show what thou art, and thou
wilt be convinced with thy children. And the fac-
174 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ulty of praise the higher things, thou knowest not;
for thou hast it not. Wherefore as thy issue, so
thy root and nature. Vanish away from those who
hope, in the Lord — from their thoughts, from, their
mind, from their souls, from their bodies, from
their doing, from their life, from their conversation,
from their activity, from their pursuit, from their
counsel, from their resurrection to God, from their
sweet savor of which thou wilt have a part, from
their fasting, from their prayers, from their holy
baptism, from their eucharist, from their food of
flesh, from their drink, from their dress, from their
love, from their recreation, from their continence,
and from their righteousness. From all these, thou
most unholy and abominable Satan, Jesus Christ,
our God and <Lord?> of those who are like thee
and have thy nature, will keep away."
85. After these words John prayed, fetched a
loaf of bread to the tomb to break it, and said,
" We praise thy name, who hast converted us from
error and unmerciful lusts. We praise thee who
hast brought before our eyes that which we saw.
We bear witness to thy goodness manifested to us
in various ways. We hallow thy good name. Lord
<and thank thee>, that thou didst show those con-
victed by thee. We thank thee. Lord Jesus Christ,
that we believe in thy unchangeable < mercy >.
We thank thee that thou art in need of a saved hu-
man nature. We thank thee, that thou didst give us
this sure < faith >, that thou alone art God, and, for
ever. We, thy servants, thank thee, O Holy One,
ACTS OF JOHN 175
who met with (good) reason, and they who raise
(from the dead).
86. Having thus prayed and praised God, he left
the tomb and made all brethren partake of the eu-
charist of the Lord. And when he had come into
the house of Andronicus, he said to the brethren :
" Dear brethren, a spirit within me has prophesied
that, in consequence of the bite of the serpent For-
tunatus died of blood-poisoning. Let one make
haste and inquire whether it is so ! And one of the
young men ran and found him dead already, the
poison having spread and reached the heart. And
he returned to John, reporting that he had been
dead three hours already. And John said, " Thou
hast thy child, devil ! "
Thus John rejoiced with the brethren in the
Lord.^
Pertaining to the Life of Jesus and His
Death.
(Aa. pp. 193-203).^
87. Those then, who were present inquired the
cause,^ and were especially perplexed, for that Dru-
^ The last sentence is found in Codex R (codice Patmensi,
14th cent.), and by Abdias, who translates "and on that
day he rejoiced with the brethren." Upon this follows in
Abdias a story concerning the philosopher Craton, which is
given in German in Zahn's Acta Joannis, p. 235-238; see also
Lipsius, Apokryphe Apostelgeschichten, 1. p. 422 f. There is
no doubt a gap in the Greek and this marked also by . . .
in Bonnet's edition, p. 193.
1 The text is that of Codex C, a Vienna MS. written in
1324, and discovered by M. R. James.
- The beginning shows that the narrative followed imme-
176 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
siana had said, " The Lord appeared unto me in the
tomb in the form of John and in that of a youth."
For as much, therefore, as they were perplexed and
were in a manner not yet confirmed in the faith so as
to endure it steadfastly, John said :
88. " Men and brethren, ye have suffered noth-
ing that is strange or incredible as concerning your
conception of the <Lord>, inasmuch as we also,
whom he chose for himself as apostles, were tried
in many points, I, indeed, am neither able to set
forth to you nor to write the things which I both
saw and heard : and now it is needful that I should
fit them to your hearing; and according as every
one of you is capable I will communicate unto you
those things whereof ye are able to become hearers,
that ye may see the glory that is about him, which
was and is both now and for ever.
" For when he had chosen Peter and Andrew,
who were brethren, he cometh to me and to my
brother James, saying, I have need of you, come
unto me. And my brother said as follows : John,
that child that called to us upon the shore, what
does it want? And I said, What child? He re-
plied, the one that is beckoning to us. And I an-
swered. Because of our long watch which we kept at
sea thou seest not aright, my brother James : but
seest thou not the man that standeth there, fair and
comely and of a cheerful countenance? But he
diately the Drusiana-story, but it shows also that the preceding
narrative is not complete.
ACTS OF JOHN 177
said to me, Him I see not, brother; but let us go
forth, and we shall see what it meaneth.
89, " And so when he had brought the ship
<to land>, we saw Him also helping along with
me to settle the ship. And when we departed
from the place, wishing to follow him again, he was
seen of me as having a head rather bald but a thick
and flowing beard; but to James he appeared as a
youth whose beard was newly come. We were
therefore perplexed, both of us, as to what should
mean which we had seen. But when we followed
himi, both of us little by little became more per-
plexed as we thought upon the matter. Yet unto
me there appeared this, which was still more won-
derful : for I would try to see him in private, and I
never at any time saw his eyes closing, but only
open. And oftentimes he appeared to me as a small
man and uncomely, and then again as one reaching
to heaven. Also there was in him another marvel ;
when I sat at meat he would take me upon his
breast, and I would consider with myself; and
sometimes his breast was felt of me to be smooth
and tender, and sometimes hard, like stones, so that
I was perplexed in myself and said, What does this
mean? And when I was thinking of these things
90. " At another time he taketh me, James, and
Peter into the mountain, where his custom was to
pray, and we beheld in him such a light as it is not
possible for a man that usetli corruptible speech to
178 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
tell what it was like. Again in like manner he
leadeth us three up into the mountain, saying,
Come ye with me. And we again went, and we saw
him at a distance praying. Now therefore I, because
he loved me, drew nigh unto him softly as though
he should not see, and stood looking upon his hinder
parts. And I beheld him that he was not in any
wise clad with garments, but was seen of us naked
thereof, and not in any wise as a man ; and his feet
whiter than snow, so that the ground there was
lighted up by his feet, and his head reaching unto
the heaven; so that I was afraid and cried out, and
he turned and appeared as a man of small stature,
and took hold upon my beard and pulled it and said
unto me, John, be not unbelieving, but believing,
and be not a busybody. And I said unto him, What
have I done, Lord ? And I tell you, brethren, I suf-
fered such pain at that place where he took hold
upon my beard, for thirty days, that I said unto him,
Lord, if thy twitch when thou wast in sport hath
given me so much pain, what were it if thou hadst
given me a buffet? And he said unto me. Let it
be thine from henceforth not to tempt him who is
not to be tempted.
91. " But Peter and James were wroth because
I spake with the Lord, and beckoned unto me that I
should come unto them, and leave the Lord alone.
And I went, and they both said unto me. He that
was speaking with the Lord when he was upon the
top of the mountain, who was he? for we heard
both of them spea!:ing. And T. when I considered
ACTS OF JOHN 179
his great grace and his unity which hath many
faces, and his wisdom which without ceasing looked
upon us, said, That ye shall learn if ye inquire of
him.
92. " Again, once, when all of us his disciples
were sleeping in a house at Gennesaret, I alone, hav-
ing wrapped myself up, watched what he did, and
first I heard him say, John, go thou to sleep. And
thereupon I feigned to be asleep ; and I saw another
like unto him, whom I also heard saying unto my
Lord, Jesus, those whom thou hast chosen believe
not on thee. And my Lord said unto him. Thou
sayest well, for they are men.
93. " Another glory will I tell you brethren.^
Sometimes when I would lay hold of him, I met
with a material and solid body; and at other times
again when I felt him, the substance was immate-
rial and bodiless and as it were not existing in any
wise.'* Now, if at any time, he were bidden by one
of the Pharisees and went to the bidding, we went
with him. And there was set before each one of us
a loaf of bread by him that had bidden us, and he
also with us received a loaf. And he would bless
his own and divide it amongst us; and from that
3 In the following Codex C can be supplemented by the
Acts of the second Nicene Synod; see also Zahn, loc. cit.,
p. 219 f.
4 It is probably this passage to which Clement of Alexandria
(adumbrat. in ep. I, Joan. ed. Potter, tom. II, p. 1009) refers :
" Fertur ergo in traditionibus Joannes, ipsum corpus quod
erat extrinsecus tangens, manum suam in profunda misisse
et ei duritiam carnis nuUo modo reluctatam esse, sed locum
manui praebuisse discipuli."
l8o THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
little each of us was filled, and our own loaves were
saved whole, so that they who bade him were
amazed. And often when I was walking with him
I wished to see whether the print of his foot ap-
peared upon the earth — for I saw him raising
himself from the earth — but I never saw it. Now,
these things, dear brethren, I speak to you to en-
courage you in your faith toward him, for we must
at the present keep silence concerning his mighty
and wonderful works, inasmuch as they are myster-
ies and peradventure cannot at all be either uttered
or heard.
94. " Now, before he was taken by the lawless
Jews, which received (their) law f rom . a lawless
serpent, he gathered us all together and said, Before
I am delivered up unto them, let us sing a hymn ^
to the Father, and go forth to what lieth before us.
So he commanded us to make as it were ^ a ring,
holding one another's hands, and himself standing
in the middle. He said, Respond Amen to me.
He began, then, to sing a hymn, and to say :
Glory to thee. Father !
And we going about in a ring said, Amen.
Glory to thee, Word ! Glory to thee, Grace !
Amen.
s On this hymn which the Priscillianists used, see Zahn,
loc. cit., p. 220 f . ; Lipsius, Apokryphe Apostelgeschichten, I,
525 f . ; Pfleiderer, Urchristentuni, 2d. ed., H, 123 f . ; Hilgen-
feld, Zeitschrift fucr zdssenschaftliche Theologie, 1900, p
30 fif.
8 " As it were " not found in the Nicene Acts.
ACTS OF JOHN l8l
Glory to thee, Spirit ! Glory to thee, Holy One !
Glory to the glory ! Amen,
We praise thee, O Father. We give thanks to
thee,
0 Light wherein dwelleth not darkness. Amen.
95. Now whereas we give thanks, I say ;
1 would be saved, and I would save. Amen.
I would be loosed, and I would loose. Amen.
I would be pierced, and I would pierce. Amen.
I would be born, and I would bear. Amen.
I would eat, and I would be eaten. Amen.
I would hear, and I would be heard. Amen.
I would be understood, being wholly understand-
ing. Amen.
I would wash myself, and I would wash. Amen.
Grace is dancing.
I would pipe, dance all of you ! Amen.
I would mourn, lament all of you ! Amen.'^
An Ogdoad is singing with us. Amen.
The Twelfth number is dancing above. Amen.
And the Whole that can dance. Amen.
He that danceth not, knoweth not what is being
done. Amen.
I would flee and I would stay. Amen.
I would deck, and I would be decked. Amen.
I would be united, and I would unite. Amen.
I have no house, and I have houses. Amen.
'^ Thus far the text in the Nicene Acts.
1 82 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
I have no place, and I have places. Amen.
I have no temple, and I have temples. Amen.
I am a lamp to thee, who beholdest me. Amen.
I am a mirror ^ to thee who perceivest me.
Amen.
I am a door to thee who knockest at me. Amen,
I am a way to thee, wayfarer. Amen.
96. " Now if you respond to my dancing, see
thyself in me who speaks ; and when thou hast seen
what I do, keep silence about my mysteries ! Thou
that dancest, perceive what I do ; for thine is this
passion of the manhood which I am to suffer! For
thou couldst not at all have apprehended what thou
sufferest if I had not been sent unto thee as the
Word by the Father. When you saw what I suf-
fer, thou hast seen me as suffering ; and seeing that,
thou hast not stood firm, but wast moved wholly.
Moved to become wise, thou hast me for a support.
Rest upon me ! Who am I ? Thou shalt not know
when I go away. What I am now seen to be, that
I am not. Thou shalt see, when thou comest. If
thou hadst known how to suffer, thou wouldst have
had (the power) not to suffer. Know thou suffer-
ing, and thou shalt have (the power) not to suffer.
That which thou knowest not, I will teach thee.
Thy God am I, not that of the betrayer. I would
s In Pseudo-Cyprian, De duobus inontibus, XHI, we read :
"The Lord himself instructs and admonishes us in the epistle
of his disciple John to the people, ' You see me thus in your-
selves as one of you sees himself in the water or a mirror/"
Comp. also Pick, Paralipomcna, p. 109.
ACTS OF JOHN 183
keep time with holy souls. In me know thou the
word of wisdom! Say thou again (with) me:
Glory to thee, Father ; glory to thee, Word ;
Glory to thee, Holy Ghost !
" Now concerning- me, if thou wouldst know what
I was (know) : w^th a word did I once deceive all
things, and was not put to shame in any wise. I
have leaped ; but do thou understand the whole, and
having understood it say, Glory to thee. Father !
Amen.-'
97.^'^ "After this dance, beloved, the Lord
went out with us; and we as men gone astray or
awakened out of sleep fled all ways. Nay even I
that had seen him did not abide at his passion when
he was suffering, ^^ but fled unto the Mount of Ol-
9 This hymn Augustine found in use among the Priscillian-
ists, and treats of it in epist. 237 ad Ceretium (0pp. tom. II,
col. 644 ff. Ed. Maur. II, 850 ff., Paris 1688). He quotes
the following sentences :
Salvare volo et salvari volo.
Solvere volo et solvi volo.
Generari volo .
Cantare volo, saltate cuncti :
Plangere volo, tundite vos omnes.
Ornare volo et ornari volo.
Lucerna sum tibi, ille qui me vides.
Janua sum tibi, quicumque me pulsas.
Qui vides, quod ago, tace opera mea.
Verbo illusi cuncta, et non sum illusus in totum.
Thilo once promised to write a commentary on this hymn,
but never fulfilled his promise. The Gnostic character of the
hymn is obvious.
10 Cod. C. can here again be supplemented by the Nicene
Acts, see Zahn, loc. cit., p. 222 f.
11 But see John XIX. 26 f.
184 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ives, weeping over that which had taken place.
And when he was hung upon the cross, at the sixth
hour of the day, there came darkness over all the
earth. And my Lord stood in the midst of the cave
and lighted it up, and said, John, unto the multitude
down below in Jerusalem I am being crucified, and
pierced with lances and reeds, and gall and vinegar
is given me to drink. ^^ But unto thee I am speak-
ing, and hearken thou to what I say. I put it into
thy heart to come up into this mountain, that thou
mightest hear matters needful for a disciple to learn
from his teacher, and for a man to learn from his
God.
98. " And having thus spoken, he showed me a
cross of light set up, and about the cross a great
multitude, not having one form; and in the cross
was one form and one likeness. And the Lord
himself I beheld above the cross, not having any
shape, but only a voice, and a voice not such as was
familiar to us, but a sw^eet and kind voice and one
truly divine, saying unto me : " It is needful that
one should hear these things from me, O John, for I
have need of one that will hear. This cross of light
is sometimes called the Word by me for your sakes,
sometimes Mind, sometimes Jesus, sometimes
Christ, sometimes Door, sometimes Way, some-
ties Bread, sometimes Seed, sometimes Resurrec-
tion, sometimes Son, sometimes Father, sometimes
Spirit, sometimes Life, sometimes Truth, some-
12 i.e. the true Clirist d^ics not suffer, cannot suffer.
ACTS OF JOHN 185
times Faith, sometimes Grace. ^^ Now, so it is called
as toward men. But in truth, as concerned in itself
and in our mode of expression, it is the marking off
of all things and the uplifting and foundation of
those things that are fixed and were unsettled, and
the harmony of the wisdom — and indeed the wis-
dom of the harmony. But there are on the right
and on the left of its powers, principalities, domin-
ions and demons, operations, threats, wrath, devils,
Satan and the Lower Root, from which the nature
of the things that come into being proceeded.
99. " This, then, is the cross which fixed all
things apart by the Word, and marked off the things
from birth and below it, and then compacted all into
one. But this is not the cross of wood which thou
wilt see when thou goest down hence, neither am I
he that is upon the cross, whom now thou seest not,
but only hearest a voice. I was reckoned to be
what I am not, not being what I was unto many
others ; but they will call me something else, which
is vile and not worthy of me. As, therefore, the
place of rest is neither seen nor spoken of, much less
shall I, the Lord of that place, be seen (or spoken
of).
100. " Now the multitude about the cross which
is the lower nature is <not> of one aspect; and
those whom thou seest in the cross, even if they
have not one form, it is because every member of
him that came down has not yet been comprehended.
13 Thus far the Acts of the Nicene Synod.
1 86 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
But when the nature of man shall be taken up, and
the race which is repairing to me, in obedience to
my voice, then that which now hears me shall be
united with it and shall no longer be what it now is,
but above them, as I am now. For as long as thou
callest not thyself mine, I am not that which I was.
But if hearing thou hearkenest unto me, then thou
shalt be as I am, and I shall be what I was, when I
have thee with myself. For from this thou art.
Care not, therefore, for the many, and them that are
outside the mystery despise! Know that I am
wholly with the Father, and the Father with me.
loi. " Nothing therefore of the things which
they will say of me have I suffered: nay, that suf-
fering also which I showed unto thee and unto the
rest in the dance, I w411 that it be called a mystery.
For what thou art, thou seest, that did I show thee ;
but wliat I am, that I alone know, and none else.
Let me, therefore, keep that which is my own, and
that which is thine behold thou through me, and be-
hold me in truth not <what> I am, as I said, but
what thou art able to know, because being akin.
Thou hearest that I suffered, yet I suffered not;
that I suffered not, yet did I suffer; that I was
pierced, yet was I not smitten; hanged, and I was
not hanged; that blood flowed from me, yet it
flowed not; and, in a word, those things that they
say of me I had not, and the things that they say not
those I suffered. Now what they are I will signify
unto thee, for I know thou wilt understand. Per-
ceive thou, therefore, in me the rest of the Logos,
ACTS OF JOHN 187
the piercing of the Logos, the blood of the Logos,
the wound of the Logos, the naiHng of the Logos,
the passion of the Logos, the naihng of the Logos,
the death of the Logos. And thus speak I, separat-
ing ofif the manhood. Think thou, therefore, in the
first place of the Logos, then shalt thou perceive the
Lord, and in the third place the man, and what he
hath suffered.
102. " When he had spoken unto me these
things, and others which I know not how to say as
he would have me, he was taken up, no one of the
multitude having beheld him. And when I went
down, I laughed them all to scorn, inasmuch as he
had told me the things which they said concerning
him ; and I held firmly this one thing in myself, that
the Lord contrived all things symbolically and by a
dispensation toward men, for their conversion and
salvation.
103. " Having therefore beheld, brethren, the
grace of the Lord and his kindly affection toward
us, let us worship him as those unto whom he hath
shown mercy. Not with our fingers, neither with
our mouths, nor with the tongue, neither with any
part of our body, whatsoever, but with the disposi-
tion of our soul, even him, who became man apart
from this body. And let us watch because now also
he keepeth ward over prisons for our sakes, in
tombs also, in bonds and dungeons, in shame and
reproaches, by sea and land, at scourgings, condem-
nations, conspiracies, frauds, punishments, and, in a
word, he is with all of us, and suffereth with us
l88 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
when we suffer, brethren. When he is called by
any one of us he endureth not to shut his ears to us,
but as being everywhere he hearkeneth to all of us,
and just now (has hearkened) to both me and Dru-
siana — forasmuch as he is the God of them that are
shut up — bringing help to us by his own compas-
sion.
104. " Be ye also persuaded, therefore, beloved,
that it is no man whom I preach unto you to wor-
ship, but God unchangeable, God invincible, God
higher than all authority, and all power, and older
and mightier than all the angels and creatures that
are spoken of, and all ages (?eons). If ye then
abide in him, and in him are builded up, ye shall
possess your soul indestructible."
105. And when he had delivered these things
unto the brethren, John departed with Andronicus
to walk; and Drusiana also followed afar off to-
gether with all, that they might behold the acts that
were done and hear his word always in the Lord.^^
THE END OF JOHN
{Aa.pp. 203-2 1 5 ).i
106. On the following day, which was the
Lord's day, and in the presence of the brethren, he
1* Codex C. adds after " Lord " : now and always and for
ever and ever. Amen.
1 For the text see also Tischendorf, Acta, pp. 272-276;
Zahn, loc. cit., pp. 239 ff. ; comp. also Lipsius, I, p. 490 fif.
The whole consists of two parts : the first describes a Sunday-
service — the last of John (c. 106-110), the second the burial
of the apostle (c. 111-115),
ACTS OF JOHN 189
began to say to them : " Brethren, fellow-servants,
coheirs, and copartners of the Kingdom of the
Lord, ye know the Lord, how many powers he hath
given you through me, how many miracles, what
cures, signs, what gifts, teachings, rulings, rests,
services, knowledge, glories, graces, gifts, faiths,
communions, all gifts that you have seen with your
eyes, were given you by him, as they cannot be seen
with these eyes and cannot be heard with these ears.
Be strong, therefore, in him, remembering him in all
your doings, knowing the mystery of the dispensa-
tion that has come to men, for the sake of which the
Lord hath worked. He, then, through me, exhorts
you, since he wishes to remain without grief, with-
out insult, without treachery, without punishment.
For he also knows insult from you, he knows also
dishonor, treachery and punisment, if you disobey
his commandments.
107. " Let not, therefore, our good God be
grieved, the compassionate, the merciful, the holy,
the undeiiled, the incorporeal, the only, the one, the
immutable, the sincere, the guileless, the slow to an-
ger, he that is higher and more exalted than every
name that we speak or think of, our God Jesus
Christ ! Let him rejoice along with us, because we
live in purity; let him rest because we behave rev-
erently. Let him be unconcerned, because we are
temperate ; let him be pleased because we live in fel-
lowship; let him smile because we are sober-minded,
and let him be delighted because we love him !
These things, brethren, I communicate to you, press-
I90 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ing on to the work set before me, already perfected
for me by the Lord. For what else have I to say to
you? You have the sureties of our God. You
have the pledges of his goodness, you have his sure
presence. And if ye, then, sin no more, he will for-
give you what you have done in ignorance. But if,
after ye have known him, and he has had compas-
sion upon you, you return to the like courses, even
your former offenses will be laid to your charge,
and ye shall have no portion in him, or compassion
before his face."
1 08. And when he had said this to them, he thus
prayed : " Jesus, who didst wreathe this crown by
thy twining, who hast inserted these many flowers
into the everlasting flower of thy countenance, who
hast sown these words into my soul, who art the
only fosterer and physician of thy servants, who
healest freely, who art benignant and not haughty,
alone merciful and kind, alone a Saviour and just;
thou who always seest what concerns all, and art all,
and everywhere present, comprising all and replen-
ishing all, Christ Jesus God Lord, who with thy
gifts and thy compassion protects those that hope in
thee; who knowest intimately all the cunnings and
threats by which our adversary follows us every-
where, do thou alone, O Lord, help thy servants
with thy watchful care. So be it, Lord."
109. And having asked bread, he gave thanks
thus, saying : " What praise or what sort of of-
fering or what thanksgiving, shall we, breaking the
bread, invoke, but thee only. Lord Jesus? We
ACTS OF JOHN 191
glorify the name of the Father called by thee. We
glorify the name of the Son called through thee.
We glorify thy resurrection manifested to us
through thee. We glorify thy way ; we glorify thy
seed, the word, the grace, the faith, the salt, the un-
speakable pearl, the treasure, the plow, the net, the
greatness, the diadem, him called Son of man for
our sakes, who has given us the truth, the rest, the
knowledge, the power, the commandment, the trust,
the hope, the love, the freedom, and the place of
refuge in thee. For thou alone, O Lord, art the
root of immortality and the fountain of incorrup-
tion, and the seat of the ages; thou who hast been
called all these names for our sakes, that now we,
calling upon thee through these, may recognize thy
greatness, which w-e cannot really see in the pres-
ent, but only, when we are pure, and solely in the
image of the man belonging to thee! "
1 10. And having broken the bread, he gave it to
us, praying for each of the brethren, that he might
become worthy of the grace of the Lord and his
most holy eucharist. He also, therefore, having
likewise tasted it, said : " To me also let there be a
portion with you, and grace be with you, O be-
lli. And he said to Berus : ^ "Take two
2 Tischendorf reads here thus: "And having thus spoken
and confirmed the brethren, he said to Eutyches, also named
Verus : Behold, I appoint thee a minister of the Church of
Christ, and I entrust to thee the flock of Christ. Be mind-
ful, therefore, of the commandments of the Lord ; and if
thou shouldst fall into trials or dangers, be not afraid, for
thou shalt fall under many troubles, and thou shalt be shown
to be an eminent witness of the Lord. Thus, then, Verus
192 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
brethren with baskets and vessels with thee and fol-
low me! " And Berus did immediately what John,
the servant of God, had bidden him. And the
blessed John, having gone forth from the house,
went outside of the gates, having told the multitude
to stand off from him. And having come to the
tomb of one of our brethren, he told to the young
men : " Dig, children ! " And they dug, and he
said to them : " Let the trench be deeper." And
as they dug, he preached to them the word of God,
and exhorted those who had come out of the house
with him, building them up, and furnishing them
thoroughly into the majesty of God, and praying
for each one of us. And when the young men had
finished the trench, as he had wished, while we knew
nothing, he takes off the clothes he had on, and
throws them, as if they were some bedding, into the
depths of the trench ; and standing in only his draw-
ers, stretched forth his hands, and prayed thus :
112. " O God, who hast chosen us for the apos-
tleship among the Gentiles, who hast sent us into
this world, who hast declared thyself through the
Law and the prophets; who hast never rested, but
always savest from the foundation of the world
those who can be saved; who hast made thyself
known through all nature, even among the animals,
attend to the flock as a servant of God, until the time ap-
pointed for thy testimony. And when John had spoken this,
and more than this, having entrusted to him the flock of
Christ, he says to him," etc., etc. — Zahn and Bonnet con-
sidered this whole clause as an interpolation and omitted it
from their texts.
ACTS OF JOHN 193
who hast made the lonely and wild soul quiet and
peaceable; who hast given thyself to it when thirst-
ing after thy words; who didst quickly show thyself
to it when about to die, and didst appear as law when
sinking into lawlessness; who didst manifest thyself
to it when overcome by Satan ; who didst overcome
its adversary when it took refuge in thee; who hast
given it thy hand, and raised it from the Kingdom
of Hades ; who didst not leave it in the body ; who
hast shown it its own enemy ; who hast given it a
pure knowledge concerning thee, God Jesus, Father
of the supernatural, ruler of the heavenly law of
things ethereal, the course of things aerial, guardian
of those on earth and fear of those under the earth,
and grace of thine own people ; receive also the soul
of thy John, which is certainly deemed worthy of
thee!
113. " Thou who hast preserved me also till the
present hour pure to thyself, and free from inter-
course with a woman; who, when I inclined in my
youth to marry, didst appear to me and say, I am in
need of thee, John; who didst prepare for me be-
forehand my bodily W'Cakness; who, in the third
place,^ when I wished to marry, didst prevent me at
once, but didst say to me at the third hour, in the
sea, John, if thou wert not mine, I would let thee
3 Thus we render the Greek word triton, which may also
be translated " a third time." The idea seems to be that
John speaks of three impediments; one was the appearing
of the Lord and call of John; the second his bodily weak-
ness ; the third the express prohibition of the Lord to John,
with the declaration: "If thou wert not mine, I would let
thee marry."
194 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
marry ; who for two years madest my eyesight weak,
didst make men mourn and dependent on thee ; who
in the third year hast opened up the spiritual eyes,
and favored my visible eyes ; who by thy representa-
tions didst make the steady gaze upon a woman hate-
ful to me; who didst deliver me from temporary
show, and didst become my leader to eternal life;
who didst separate me from the filthy madness of
the flesh ; who didst wrest me from bitter death, and
alone didst bring me to thee ; who didst stop up the
secret disease of the soul, and cut out its open sec-
tions ; who didst afflict and banish him who rebelled
in me; who didst establish a spotless friendship to
thee; who didst prepare a safe w^ay to thee, who
didst give me undoubting faith in thee; who hast
drawn out for me pure thoughts toward thee ; who
hast given the due reward to every deed ; who hast
set it in my soul to have no other possession than
thee alone — for what can be more precious than
thou? — now, since I have accomplished thy stew-
ardship with which I was intrusted, make me wor-
thy, O Lord, of thy repose, and give me the end in
thee, which is the unspeakable and ineffable salva-
tion.
114. "And as I go to thee, let the fire with-
draw ; let darkness be overcome ; let the gulf be pow-
erless ; let the furnace be slackened ; let hell be extin-
guished, let the (evil) angels get behind me; let the
demons be afraid ; let the princes be broken in pieces ;
let the powers (of darkness) fall. Let the devil be
brought to silence ; let Satan be laughed to scorn ; let
ACTS OF JOHN 195
his madness be tamed ; let his wrath be broken ; let
his vengeance behave itself unseemly ; let his attack
suffer sorrow. Let his children be trodden under
foot, and let all his root be uprooted. And grant
to me to accomplish my journey to thee, without
suffering insults and abuses; and let me receive
what thou hast promised to those, that live in purity,
and love thee only ! "
115. And having sealed (crossed) himself alto-
gether, he stood and said, " Be thou with me, Lord
Jesus Christ" ; he laid down in the grave in which he
had spread out his garments. He then said to us,
" Peace be with you, brethren ! " and peacefully
yielded up the ghost.'*
* In Tischendorf 's text the last section reads as follows :
And gazing towards heaven, he glorified God; and having
sealed himself altogether, he stood and said to us, Peace
and grace be with you, brethren ! and sent the brethren
away. And when they went on the morrow they did not
find him, but his sandals, and a fountain welling up. And
after that they remembered what had been said to Peter
by the Lord about him : " For what does it concern thee if
I should wish to remain until I come ? " And they glorified
God for the miracle that had happened. And having thus
believed, they retired praising and blessing the benignant
God ; because to him is due glory, now and ever, and to
ages of ages. Amen.
The story of John going down alive into his grave is
related at length by Augustine (Tractat. 124 in Joanncn, opp.
T., Ill, 2 col, 597 ff.). See Zahn, loc. cit., p. XCVIII f. ;
Lipsius, loc. cit., I, 494 ff. A modern German poet, R. Binder
speaks thus of John's grave:
" Nicht tot ist er, nein, er schlummert bless,
Und harrt auf den Meister, der Erd im Schoss.
Sich selbst grub er lebensmiide sein Grab
Und legte zum Schlummer sich dann hinab.
Das Atmen der Brust hort das lauschende Ohr,
Aus dem Boden quillt heilendes Manna hervor."
196 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
APPENDIX
John and the Robber.
In his Quis div. salv., c. 42, Clement of Alexandria men-
tions the story of John and the robber, which forms the
theme of " Der gerettete Jiingling " by the poet Herder. In
the Acts of John the story is not mentioned though it is
found by Abdias immediately before the Drusiana-story (c.
62). Whether the story preserved by Clement ever formed
a part of the Acts, is difficult to tell. But be this as it may,
we add it for the reader's benefit in Wilson's translation
(Clement's works in the Ante-Nicene Library) : —
(John) Having come to one of the cities not far
off (the name of which some give)/ and having
put the brethren to rest in other matters at least,
looking to the bishop appointed, and seeing a youth,
powerful in body, comely in appearance, and ardent,
said, " This (youth) I commit to you in all earnest-
ness, in the presence of the Church, and with Christ
as witness." And on his accepting and promising
all he gave the same injunction and testimony.
And he set out for Ephesus. And the presbyter
taking home the youth committed to him, reared,
kept, cherished, and finally baptized him. After
this he relaxed his stricter care and guardianship,
under the idea that the seal of the Lord he had set
on him was a complete protection to him. But on
his obtaining premature freedom, some youths of
his age, idle, dissolute, and adepts in evil courses,
corrupt him. First they entice him by many costly
1 Said to be Smyrna.
ACTS OF JOHN I97
entertainments; then afterwards by night issuing
forth for highway robbery, they take him along with
them. Then they dared to execute together some-
thing greater. And he by degrees got accustomed ;
and from greatness of nature, when he had gone
aside from the right path, and hke a hard-moutlied
and powerful horse, had taken the bit between his
teeth, rushed with all the more force down into the
depths. And having entirely despaired of salvation
in God, he no longer meditated what was insignifi-
cant, but having perpetrated some great exploit,
now that he was once lost, he made up his mind to a
like fate with the rest. Taking them and forming a
band of robbers, he was the prompt captain of the
bandits, the fiercest, the bloodiest, the crudest.
Time passed, and some necessity having emerged,
they sent again for John. He, when he had settled
the other matters on account of which he came,
said, '* Come now, O bishop, restore to us the de-
posit which I and the Saviour committed to thee in
the face of the Church over which you preside, as
witness." The other was at first confounded,
thinking that it was a false charge about money
which he did not get ; and he could neither believe
the allegation regarding what he had not, nor dis-
believe John. But when he said, " I demand tlie
young man, and the soul of the brother," the old man
groaned deeply, and bursting into tears, said, " He
is dead." " How and what kind of death ? " " He
is dead," he said, " to God. For he turned wicked
and abandoned, and at last a robber; and now he has
198 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
taken possession of the mountain in front of the
church, along with a band like him." Rending there-
fore, his clothes, and striking his head with great
lamentation, the apostle said, " It was a fine guard
of a brother's soul I left! But let a horse be
brought me, and let some one be my guide on the
way." He rode away, just as he was, straight
from the church. On coming to the place, he was
arrested by the robbers' outpost ; neither fleeing nor
entreating, but crying, " It was for this I came.
Lead me to your captain;" who meanwhile was
waiting, all armed as he was. But when he recog-
nized John as he advanced, he turned, ashamed, to
flight. The other followed with all his might, for-
getting his age, crying, " Why, my son, dost thou
flee from me, thy father, unarmed, old? Son, pity
me. Fear not; thou hast still hope of life. I will
give account to Christ for thee. If need be, I will
willingly endure death, as the Lord did die for us.
For thee I will surrender my life. Stand, believe ;
Christ hath sent me."
And he, when he heard, first stood, looking down ;
then threw down his arms, then trembled and wept
bitterly. And on the old man approaching, he em-
braced him, speaking for himself with lamentations
as he could, and baptized a second time with tears,
concealing only his right hand. The other pledg-
ing, and assuring him on oath that he would find
forgiveness for himself from the Saviour, beseech-
ing and falling on his knees, and kissing his right
hand itself, as now purified by repentance, led him
ACTS OF JOHN 199
back to the church. Then by supplicating with co-
pious prayers, and striving along with him in con-
tinual fastings, and subduing his mind by various
utterances of words, did not depart, as they say un-
til he restored him to the Church, presenting in him
a great example of true repentance and a great to-
ken of regeneration, a trophy of the resurrection
for which we hope; when at the end of the world,
the angels, radiant with joy, hymning and opening
the heavens, shall receive into the celestial abodes
those who truly repent, before all, the Saviour Him-
self goes to meet them, welcoming them; holding
forth the shadowless, ceaseless light ; conducting
them to the Father's bosom, to eternal life, to the
kingdom of heaven.
IV
THE ACTS OF ANDREW
LITERATURE.
Lipsius, Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichien, I (1883),
543-622; Erganzungsheft, 1890, 28-31.
Harnack, Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, I (1893),
127 ff.; II, I (1897), 543-545-
Speranskij, Die apokryphen Akten des Apostels Andreas in
den altrussischen Texten, Moskau, 1894.
Bonnett, " La passion de I'apotre Andre, dans quelle langue
a-t-elle ete ecrite?" {Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 3
(1894), 458-469. Supplementum Codicis apocryphi,
II : Acta Andrese cum Laudatione contexta, et Mar-
tyrium Andreae grsece, Passio Andrese latine a se
primum edita ex Analectis Bollandianis (XIII, 1894, p.
309-378), repetiit prsefatus est indices adjecit, Paris,
1895-
Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha, II, i (1898), pp. XI-
XXIV; 1-127.
Ehrhard, Die altchristliche Literatur, I (1900), 161-163.
Bardenh'ewer, Geschichte dcr altchristlichen Literatur, I
(1902), 432 ff.
Schimmelpfeng-Hennecke in Hennecke, N cutestamentliche
Apokryphen, 1904, 459 ff. ; Handbuch, 1904, 544 ff.
Bardenhewer, Patrology, p. 103 f.
Of Andrew, the brother of Peter (Matt. IV, 18; Mark I,
16; XIII, 3; John I, 40, 44; VI, 9; XII, 22) we know very
little. According to Eusebius, Andrew labored in the coun-
tries north of the Black Sea (Hist. EccL, III, i, i). Some
make Greece the sphere of his activity (Lipsius, loc. cit., 6^) ;
only the Muratorian Fragment (line 13) records that, in
consequence of a revelation given to Andrew, John wrote his
gospel, which would point to Ephesus.
200
ACTS OF ANDREW 201
Leucian Acts of Andrew, like those of other apostles, are
mentioned first by Eusebius (loc. cit., Ill, 25). Ephiphanius
(d. 403) states that the Acts of Andrew were in favor with
the Encratites (i.e., those sects which rejected as absolutely
unlawful the use of marriage, of flesh meat, and of wine,
hares, 47, where the Acts of John, Thomas, and other Acts
are also mentioned) ; the Apostolics (also called Apotactici,
i. e., " Renunciants," who condemned marriage and rejected
private property. They appealed chiefly to the Acts of An-
drew and of Thomas, hceres, 61) ; the Origenians, or eunuchs
{hceres, 63). These sects point to Asia Minor, where the
Leucian Acts, as we stated above, were composed. Augustine
(d. 430) mentions that the Acts of the Apostles, written by
Leucius Charinus — " discipulus diaboli " (i. e., a disciple of
the devil), as Pope Gelasius (d. 496) calls him — were held
in estimation by the Manichseans {contra adversar. legis et
prophet., I, 20). Philastrius of Brescia {hares, 88) speaks of
two kinds of Acts of Andrew. The authorship generally is
attributed to Leucius by early writers; Innocentius, L (d.
417), however, says that the Acts of Andrew were composed
by the philosophers Nexocharis and Leonidas, which may
perhaps be a mistake for Leucius Charinus.
Of the material of the Acts of Andrew, which still recently
has come to us, two passages preserved by Euodius of Uzala,
a cotemporary of Augustine, in his De fide contra Manichceos,
c. p. XXXVIII, have been designated as original. Later re-
visions of the original Acts made it impossible to obtain a
true state of the original Acts, and it is due to the labors
of Prof. Bonnet, that we now have what may be considered a
part of the ancient Acts. Following Hennecke, who also
gives a critique of the sources, we give :
I.
The Double Fragment by Euodius *
a. [Listen what you hear in the Acts of Leu-
cius, which he wrote under the name of the apos-
1 The Latin text of the fragment is given by Lipsius, loc.
cit., 590 f., and Schmidt, Die alien Petrusakten, p. 53.
202 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ties concerning Maximilla, the wife of Egetes:^]
As she would not give to her husband what she
owed to him, though the apostle said, Let the hus-
band render unto the wife due benevolence : and
likewise also the wife unto the husband, she sub-
situted her maid Euclia, supplying her with repug-
nant adornment and attire and in the night made
her her substitute, so that her husband, without
knowing it, went in to her as to his wife.
b. We also read there that when Maximilla and
Iphidamia ^ went to hear Andrew the apostle, a
beautiful boy, whom Leucius regarded as a god or
at least as an angel, delivered them to Andrew and
then went to the pretorium of Egetes. He there
entered her bedchamber and imitated the voices of
women, as if Maximilla were complaining of the suf-
ferings of the female sex and Iphidamia were an-
swering. Upon hearing this, Egetes, thinking that
the women were there, went away.^
2 Euodius writes : Egetes ; the Greek versions : yEgeates ;
the Latin : ^geas.
3 This name is also dififerently written, as Iphidama, Ephi-
donna, Ephidamia.
* In the present texts of the Acts of Andrew, we find
nothing of what Euodius narrates, and it is possible that the
words were eliminated as offensive.
ACTS OF ANDREW 203
2.
Andrew in Prison ^
(Aa.II, hpp. 38-45-y
I. " Are ye all so slack? Are ye not
yet convinced of yourselves, that ye are not yet
carrying his goodness? Let us reverently rejoice
with one another over the rich communion which
we have with him,! Let us say among ourselves,
Happy is our generation, by whom is it loved?
Blessed our existence, of whom did it receive com-
passion? We are not prostrated, since we are
known from such a height. We belong not to time,
to be afterward destroyed by it. We are not the
product of moving, to be again annihilated by it,
nor of earthly generation, to return again (to
earth). We belong to that greatness after which
we follow, and to him who pities us. We belong
to the better. Therefore, we run away from the
baser. We belong to the noble, by whom we re-
ject the ignoble ; to the righteous, by whom we thrust
away the unrighteous ; to the merciful by whom we
repel the unmerciful ; to the Saviour, by whom we
have known the destroyer ; to the light, by which we
banished the darkness; to the One, by whom we
removed the ma"v; to the heavenly, by whom we
perceived the ear.hy; to the permanent, by whom
1 The heading is for the sake of convenience.
- The text is according to cod. Vatic, gr., 808 saec : X aut
XI (Aa., p. XIV), and it seems to present the close of an
address delivered by the apostle in prison.
204 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
we understood the transient. If we, as he deserves
it, resolve to pay to the God, who had mercy upon
us, with thanksgiving or trust, with praises or glori-
fications, let us glory before him of nothing more
than that we are known of Him ! "
2. Having said these things to the brethren, he
dismissed every one to his house, and said to them,
" As servants of Christ you shall neither be for-
saken by me for the sake of the love which is in
him, nor shall I also be forsaken by you because of
his mediatorship." And each returned to his
house. And there was joy among them for many
days, during which Aegeates did not think of in-
stituting proceedings against the apostle. Thus
every one was confirmed in the faith in the Lord.
And though they all met fearlessly in the prison to-
gether with Maximilla and Iphidamia and the
others, they unceasingly considered the love and
mercy of the Lord.
3. One day, when Aegeates sat in judgment, he
remembered the case against Andrew. And like
a mad man, he abandons the case before him, leaves
the seat and runs to the pretorium (the official resi-
dence). He passionately addresses Maximilla with
flatteries, which had reached the house before him
coming from prison.
4. And coming to her he said, " Thy parents,
Maximilla, deemed me worthy to become thy hus-
band and gave thee to me in marriage, without re-
gard to riches, descent, or glory, but on account
of the nobility of my heart. Not to mention many
ACTS OF ANDREW 205
things, what I meant to teU to thy shame, not to
mention the good which I received from thy parents
and which thou didst receive from me all our life,
I came here, leaving the court, to hear one thing
from thee. Answer, therefore, intelligently. If
thou wert as formerly, lived with me in an intimate
manner, slept with me, and would unite with me
to procreate children, I should then please thee in
every respect. Yea, I will do still more and set free
the stranger whom I have in prison. But if thou
refusest, I shall do no harm to thee — for this is
not in my power; but him whom thou lovest the
most, more than thou lovest me, I shall torment
the more. Consider, therefore, both, and give me
thy decision to-morrow! For I am fully prepared
for it."
5. Having thus spoken, he went away. At the
usual hour Maximilla and Iphidamia went to An-
drew. And putting his hands before her face, she
kissed them, and she told him what Aegeates had
said. And Andrew answered : " I understand,
Maximilla, my dear child, that thou art so excited
and that the demand of conjugal intercourse is re-
pugnant to thee, who wishest to keep away from an
impure and filthy conduct. x'\nd this separation
was enjoined upon thee long ago by thy view. Now
thou wishest to have my opinion also for a testi-
mony. I adjure three, Maximilla, do it not ! Sub-
mit not to the threat of Aegeates ! Be not per-
suaded by him ! Fear not his infaniDus designs !
Be not decided by his flattering or winning ways.
206 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Yield not to his unclean delusions ! But suffer
every trial, which he puts on thee, and look a little
at us, and thou shalt see how he wholly flags and
wastes away, far from thee and those which are in-
wardly related to thee. What I indeed should have
told thee — for I rest not to accomplish the task
seen and imposed by thee — has escaped me. Yea,
justly I see in thee repenting Eve and in me con-
verting Adam. For what she suffered unknow-
ingly, thou, to whose soul I address my words, be-
ing converted, bringest to a happy end. And what
the spirit suffered, being dragged down by her, be-
came unfaithful to itself, I now settle with thee,
which perceivest that thou art drawn upwards. Of
what she was ill thou hast cured, without suffering
the same. And wherein she was disobedient, in
that thou didst obey. And what he yielded, I flee.
And wherein they were deceived, we have known.
For it is appointed that each should make amends
for his case.
6. " I said as I meant, but could say yet the fol-
lowing : Well for thee, nature of man, that thou
art saved in spite of thy weakness, without being
hidden! Well for thee, soul, which didst cry what
thou hast suffered, and hast found the way again
to thyself! W'ell for thee, man, who knowest that
which is not thine and longest after thine own !
Well for thee, that thou hearest the things which
were spoken ! For I conceive that thou art greater
than can be thought of or expressed. For I know
that thou art mightier than those which seem to
ACTS OF ANDREW 207
have power over thee; that thou art more glorious
than those which brought thee into disgrace; than
those which imprisoned thee. Having carefully
considered all this in thyself, O man, that thou art
immaterial, holy, light, related to the uncreated, ra-
tional, heavenly, transparent, pure, exalted over
flesh, world, dominions, and powers, above whom
thou art, having conceived thyself in the condition,
take also along the knowledge, in which thou art
prevalent. And when thou hast seen thy face in
thy essence, break all bonds. I mean not those
which belong to thine own origin, but those which
lie beyond thy origin, for which we laid down for
thee enormous denominations, and long to see him
who has revealed himself unto thee, the uncreated,
whom thou shalt soon see alone!
7. '* This Maximilla, I say, with respect to thee.
For according to their meaning my words refer to
thee. As Adam lived in Eve, because he completely
yielded to her, thus I also live now in thee, since
thou obeyest the commandment of the Lord, and
livest a life worthy of thy essence. But the threats
of Aegeates despise in the consciousness that we
have a God who has mercy upon us. Let the ver-
bosity of that man also not influence thee, but re-
main chaste ! And let him revenge himself on me
not only through the torture in prison, but let him
also cast me to the wild beasts, burn me at the stake,
throw me down the precipice ! What more can be
done to me? Since it concerns this body, let him
do with it as he pleases, since it is related to him !
2o8 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
8. " My word, Maximilla, concerns thee again.
I say to thee, Yield not to Aegeates ! Resist his
designs, especially as I have seen the Lord, Max-
imilla, whose voice was to me : the father of
Aegeates, the devil, shall deliver thee from this
prison! Therefore, let it be thy care to keep thy-
self in future chaste and pure, holy, undefiled,
sincere, discreet, not consenting to the persuasive
attempts of our enemy, inviolated, infrangible, un-
broken, unwounded, undivided, not giving offense,
without part in Cain's works! For if thou, Max-
imilla, resignest not thyself to the opposite conduct,
I shall also rest, since I am obliged to leave this life
for thee, i. e., for me. But should I be driven
hence, whereas I could help other souls related to
me through thee, and thou yieldest to the per-
suasive arts of Aegeates and the alluring arts of
his father, the serpent, and turnest again to thy
former way, know that I shall suffer on thy ac-
count, till thou hast seen thyself, that I refused to
live longer for any unworthy soul !
9. ''I beseech thee, therefore, to endure in the
sense which becomes the wise. I pray thy invis-
ible mind, to keep with thee. I beseech thee, love
the Lord Jesus, yield not to the baser! Assist me
also, when as man I call for help, that I become
perfect ! Help me also, that thou mayest know
thy true nature ! Suffer with my affliction, that
thou mayest know what I suffer, and thou shalt
escape affliction. See what I see, and what thou
seest, will blind thee. See that which is needful.
ACTS OF ANDREW 209
and what is not needful thou shah not see. Listen
to that which I say, and what thou hast heard, reject !
10. " These things I spoke to thee and to every
hearer who Hstened to me. And thou, Stratocles " ^
— with these words he looked at him — " why dost
thou shed so many tears and weepest thou ? What
sadness has overtaken thee? What meaneth thy
great affliction or thy great grief? Dost thou un-
derstand my words and why I ask of thee, child, to
come to thy senses? Knowest thou whom my
words concern? Has each taken hold of thy mind?
Has it penetrated into the heart of thy thoughts?
Have I only thee, who didst listen to me? Do I
find me in thee ? Does some one speak in thy heart,
whom I regard as mine own ? Does he love the one
speaking in me and will join him? Will he be
united with him ? Does he hasten to make friends
with him? Does he long to be connected with him ?
Does he find a certain repose in him? Has he a
place where to lay his head? Is anything there to
oppose him ? Does he get incensed — pursued —
hated ? Does he go away — does he get provoked
— does he turn away — does he renounce — does he
move out — is he troubled with anxiety? Has he
any quarrel? Does he speak with others? Do
others flatter him? Does he agree with others?
Does something else disturb him ? Dost thou enter-
3 As the manuscript is imperfect, both at the beginning
and at the end, we must suppose that before the beginning
of the present text mention must have already been made
i>f Stratocles, the brother of ^geates.
2IO THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
tain an opponent of mine? An adversary? a dis-
turber of the peace? an enemy? a juggler? a sorcer-
er? a word twister? an obdurate? a treacherous? a
plotter? a misanthrope? an enemy of the word? a ty-
rant? a boaster? an insolent? a mad? a relative of
the serpent ? an instrument of Satan ? an advocate of
the hellish fire? a servant of darkness? Does any-
one dwell in thee, who, when I thus speak, Stratocles,
could not bear it ? For who should it be ? Answer !
Do I speak in vain ? Have I spoken in vain ? No,
saith the man who in thee, Stratocles, sheds tears
again."
11. And Andrew took the hand of Stratocles and
said, " I have him whom I loved. I shall rest on
him for whom I have waited. For thine ever in-
tenser sighing and unceasing weeping has given me
a sign for my already approaching end, that I have
not spoken my words in vain to thee."
12. And Stratocles answered him, " Think not,
most blessed Andrew, that I suffer under any other
affliction, but for thee ! For the words which come
out of thy mouth are like a stream of fire, emptying
itself in me, and each seizes me and truly influences
me. My soul is in that which is heard, and in an-
ticipation of an approaching affliction it is chastised.
Thou findest thy death, and I well know, a beautiful
one. But when I afterward seek thy thoughtful
care, where shall I find it and by whom? The
seed-corns of the word of salvation I have received,
when thou wast the sower. That they grow and
spring up, they need none else but thee, most blessed
ACTS OF ANDREW 211
Andrew, What else could I have said to thee than
this? I need great compassion and thy help, to
show myself worthy of the seed received from thee.
But it will only grow unceasingly and visibly spring,
if thou willst, and by praying for it and my whole
self."
13. And Andrew answered him, " It is this,
child, that I myself saw in thee. And I praise my
Lord that my spiritual efforts for thee have not
fallen upon an empty soil ; that I know, however,
what he preached. But that thou may know it, to-
morrow Aegeates will have me crucified. For
Maximilla, the Lord's maid, will excite the evil
enemy that dwells in him and whom he serves, be-
cause she denies to him what is hateful to her. And
he will imagine to comfort himself by killing me."
14. And Maximilla was not present when the
apostle said this. Having heard the words of his
reply, and having in manner collected herself and
decided as the words demanded, she gave up every
worldly enjoyment of life, and fully decided she
went straightway to the pretorium. Ageates made
the same request, which she was to consider, whether
she would not share with him in his couch. And
as she refused, he plotted to kill Andrew, and re-
flected which capital punishment he was to inflict.
And having made up his mind to the death upon
the cross, he went away and had a banquet with his
equals. But Maximilla, the Lord going before her
in the form of Andrew, went with Iphidamia to the
prison. And when a greater number of brethren
212 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
had met, Andrew felt compelled to speak thus:
15. "I was sent, dear brethren, by the Lord as
an apostle into these regions, of which the Lord
deemed me worthy, not to teach but to exhort all
men inwardly related to the words, that they live
in transitory sufferings, if they rejoice in the nox-
ious notions of their imagination. To give them up
I always asked you, and I have admonished you to
hasten toward the permanent and to flee everything
changeable. For, as you see, none of you is firm,
but all things are easily changeable, even to the
human character. And this is the case on account
of the uneducated soul which had gone astray to the
nature of man and retains pledges from its vagary.
I therefore regard those blessed who have become
hearers of the words and through them as in a mir-
ror behold the mysteries of their own nature, on
whose account all things are created.
16. "I charge you, therefore, beloved children,
to firmly build upon the foundation which is laid for
you, which is immovable and is unassailable for all
evil ones. In this foundation take root. Become
firm in the recollection of that which you have expe-
rienced, of that which took place, when I walked
with you all! You saw works performed by me
which you must believe, such signs at which the
dumb nature even would cry out. I communicated
words to you which I should like to have you re-
ceive, as the words themselves wish it. Therefore,
dearly beloved, be firm in everything which you saw,
which you heard, of which you had part! And the
ACTS OF ANDREW 213
God on whom ye believed has had mercy upon you
and will have his pleasure in you and give you rest
in all eterntiy.
17. *' But what will happen to me should not
frighten you as some strange thing, that the servant
of God, to whom God has shown so many things by
words and deeds, should be forcibly driven from this
earthly life by a bad man ! For such will not only
happen unto me, but also unto all who love him,
believe on him, and confess him. The devil, shame-
less in every respect, will arm his own children
against them, that they adhere to him. And yet he
shall not accomplish what he wishes. And why he
undertakes it, I will tell : from the beginning of all
things, and, if it may be said, since he who is with-
out beginning came down into his dominion, the
evil enemy who is averse to peace, estranges him
who is not his (from God), but only one of the
weaker ones, which has not yet come to full clear-
ness and could not yet be known. And since he also
does not know him, he should have been opposed
by him. And because that one thought to own him
and to be his master for ever, he behaves toward
him so that their enmity became a kind of friend-
ship. For he often sketched pictures of that which
is his own, to father it upon him, namely, of de-
ceitful sensual pleasures, by which he thought to
rule over him fully. He did not come out openly
as enemy, because he pretended a friendship worthy
of him.
18. "And this work he carried on for a long
214 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
time, that man did not understand it; only he
knew it ; that is, because of his gifts he was not
regarded as an enemy. But when the mystery
of grace shone forth and the counsel of the ever-
lasting rest was manifest and the light of the word
appeared and it was seen how the saved human
race had to fight with many hosts, the enemy
himself, however, being despised and on account
of the goodness of mercy was ridiculed for his
gifts by which he proudly appeared to triumph over
him, he began to rise up in hatred and enmity and
to turn the tables upon us. And he has undertaken
not to desist from us, till he thinks to have sepa-
rated us (from God). In former times our adver-
sary was careless and associated with us, pretending
a friendship worthy of him. He was not even
afraid that we, deceived by him, might leave him.
But the light that rose unto us of the possession
of the order of salvation has, I will not say
< intensified his enmity, but manifested >. For it
brought to light the mercy of his essence and what
seemed to be hidden of him, and brought out his true
nature. Therefore, dear brethren, since we know
what is to come, let us wake up without being dis-
contented, without assuming an air, without walking
with our souls in his tracks, which are not ours ; but
being completely bound up in the whole word, let us
arise spiritually, and let us all joyfully wait for the
end and flee from him, that in future he may also be
manifested as that, who our nature against our . . .
ACTS OF ANDREW 215
The Death of Andrew.^
(Aa. II, I, pp. 2^, lines 28-2^; 24 I. ig; 25, 1. 23-26;
54' I- 18-55 I- 19; 25 I- 26-36 I. II.)
19. And he left them, went to the cross, and
exclaimed : " Hail, cross ! "
(p. 25) For thou also canst rejoice indeed. I
well know that thou shalt rest henceforth, since thou
art tired long since, and standest awaiting me, <I
have come to thee whom I claim as mine own; I
have come to thee who longest for me. I know thy
mystery, that, for whose sake thou hast been
stablished. For thou art placed in the world to
strengthen the wavering. And thou reachest up to
heaven, to proclaim the upper Logos. Thou art
spread out to the right and to the left to put to
flight the fearful, hostile power and to bring together
the dispersed. Thou art fastened in the earth to
connect that which is in the earth and under the
earth with that which is in heaven. O cross, salva-
tion-instrument of the Most High ! O cross, sign
of Christ's victory over his enemies! O cross,
planted on earth, and bearing fruit in heaven! O
name of the cross, which beareth the universe!
1 Whether this part belonged to the ancient Acts of An-
drew is not so evident as far as the present form is con-
cerned. Since there are so many recensions and versions,
this part is composed of different portions supplemented by
portions from parallel narratives. In the original the con-
stituent parts are distinguished by a different print. For the
convenience of the student the lines in the original are also
marked. The chapter-number is also retained for the sake
of convenience.
2l6 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Well for thee, O cross, which bindeth the world in
its extent! Well for thee, O cross, which hast
formed thy deformed outward appearance to a form
full of intelligence ! Well for thee the invisible
chastisement, with which thou chastisest the nature
of the doctrine of polytheism and drivest its inventor
out of this humanity! Well for thee, O cross,
which hast put on the Lord, hast gathered in the
robber, hast called the apostle to repentance, and
hast not deemed us unworthy to be received by thee !
But why do I speak yet so long and allow not the
cross to embrace me, in order to be raised to life in
the cross, when I, through the cross, have gone from
life to death, which is the lot of all? Come then,
servants of my joy and beadles of Aegeates, and ful-
fill the wish of both of us and bind the lamb to the
cross of suffering, the man to the demiurge, the soul
to the Saviour !">2
20. (p. 25) And when most happy Andrew,
standing on the ground and incessantly looking at
the cross, had spoken these words, <he approached
it> after having called to the brethren that the
hangman should come and execute their order; for
they stood afar off. <So they came and> (p. 26)
only bound his feet < without piercing his hands
and feet>, without cutting the hollows of the knee,
having received this order from the proconsul, for
he wished him to be in distress while on the cross,
and in the night time to be eaten up alive by the
- This paragraph is ir..serted from the Martyrium Andrea
prius, p. 54, line 18 to p. 55, line 19.
ACTS OF ANDREW 21/
dogs. <Ancl they left him suspended and went
away from him.>
21. <And a great multitude of the brethren
stood by.> And having beheld the executioners
standing afar off, and that they had done to the
blessed one nothing of that which those who were
hanged generally experience, they thought that they
would again hear something from him; for as-
suredly, as he was hanging, he moved his head smil-
ing. And Stratocles inquired of him, " Why art
thou smiling, Andrew, servant of God? Thy
laughter makes us mourn and weep, because we are
deprived of thee." And the blessed Andrew an-
swered him, " Shall I not laugh at all, my son
Stratocles, at the empty stratagem of Aegeates,
through which he thinks to take vengeance upon us ?
We have nothing to do (p. 2']^ with him and his
plans. He cannot hear; for if he could, he would
be aware, that a man who belongs to Jesus, because
he is known of him, is henceforth armed against
every vengeance."
And having thus spoken, he discoursed to them all
in common — for even heathen ran together enraged
at the unjust judgment of Aegeates — "Ye men,
standing by me, and women, and children, and eld-
ers, born and free, and as many as will hear; I be-
seech you, give up this life, ye who have for my
sake assembled here ; and hasten to take a hold of
my soul, which leads to heavenly things, and once
for all despise all temporary things, confirming the
liearts of those who believe in Christ ! "
2l8 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
22. (p. 28) And the multitude, hearing what
was said by him, did not stand off from the place,
and the blessed Andrew continued the rather to say
to them more than he had spoken. And so much
was said by him, that a confirmation of the hearers
in the faith could be inferred. A space of three
days and nights was taken up, and no one was tired
and went away from him. And when also on the
fourth day they beheld his nobleness, and the un-
weariedness of his intellect, his eloquence, his kind
exhortations, his serene calmness, his intelligent
spirit, his firm mind, and his pure word; they were
enraged against Ageates, and all with one accord
hastened to the tribunal and cried out against him
who was sitting there, saying, " What is thy judg-
ment, O proconsul? Thou hast judged wickedly;
thy awards are impious. In what has the man
done wrong; what evil has he done? The city has
been put in an uproar. Thou grievest us all ; do
not betray Caesar's city. Grant willingly to the
Achaians the just man; do not put to death the
God-fearing man ; destroy not the godly ! Four
days he has been hanging and is alive. Having
eaten nothing he has filled us all. Take down the
man from the cross, (p. 29) and we shall all seek
after wisdom. Release the man, and to all Achaia
will mercy be shown."
2^. And when Aegeates refused to listen to
them, at first indeed signing with his hand to the
crowd to take themselves off, they began to be em-
biildcned against liim. 1)eing in number a1:)out twenty
ACTS OF ANDREW 219
thousand. And the proconsul having beheld that
they had somehow become maddened, afraid that
something' frightful would befall him, rose up from
the tribunal and went away with them, having prom-
ised to set free the blessed Andrew. And some
went on before to tell the apostle the cause for which
he came to the place of execution. While the
crowd, therefore, was exulting that the blessed An-
drew was going to be set free, the proconsul having
come up, and all the brethren rejoicing along with
Maximilla, Andrew, having heard this, said to the
brethren standing by, " What it is necessary for me
to say to him, when I am departing, that will I also
say. For what reason hast thou again come to us,
Aegeates? On what account (p. 30) dost thou,
being an adversary, come to us? What wilt thou
again dare to do, what to contrive ? Tell us. Hast
thou come to release us, as having changed thy
mind? I would not consent to thee even if thou
hadst really changed thy mind, Aegeates. <I
would not become faithless to me, though thou didst
promise me everything thou ownest. > Nor would
I believe thee, though thou didst claim to be my
friend. Wilt thou, O proconsul, release him that
has been bound? release him, who is redeemed? re-
lease the free? < Release him who was known by
him related to him ; him, who obtained mercy ? him,
beloved of him? thy opponent? the stranger? him
who appeared to thee as law?> But I have him
with whom I shall be for ever; I have him in whose
Kingdom I shall live to countless ages. To him I
220 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
go; to him I hasten, who also having made thee
known to me, when he said to me : < Know,
Aegeates and his gifts !> Let not that fearful
man terrify thee ! Let him not think to have power
over thee, who art mine ! For he is thine enemy.
<He is a disturber of the peace, a deceiver, a se-
ducer, a madman, a sorcerer, a juggler, a murderer,
a choleric ; without sympathy. > Therefore I knew
thee fully through him, who has turned toward me.
I leave thee. For I and my kinsmen depart to our
own, allowing thee to be what thou art, and what
thou dost not know about thyself."
24. (p. 31). When, therefore, he attempted to
come near to the tree of the cross, so as to release
the blessed Andrew, with all the city applauding
him, the holy Andrew said with a loud voice, " Do
not suffer, Andrew, bound upon thy cross, to be
released, O Lord ! Do not give me who am in thy
mystery to the shameless devil ! O Jesus Christ,
let not thine adversary release me, who has been
hanged by thy favor! O Father, him who has
known thy (p. 32) greatness, let this insignificant
man no longer humble ! Thou, whom I know,
whom I have, whom I love, to whom I belong, re-
ceive me, O Lord, that through my departure to
thee there may be access to thee of many kindred,
(P- 33) when they rest in thy glory!" <And
when he had thus spoken and glorified the Lord still
more, he gave up the ghost > (p. 34) with thanks-
giving.
25. After the decease of the most blessed An-
ACTS OF ANDREW 221
drew <Maximilla came> together with Stratocles,
taking no heed at all of those standing by, <and
took down the body> of the most blessed Andrew.
And when it was evening, bestowing upon him the
necessary care, she buried him. And she separated
from Aegeates on account of his brutal disposition
and lawless conduct, having chosen for herself a
holy and quiet life, and having been united to the
love of Christ, she spent her life blessedly along
with the brethren. And though Aegeates had been
very importunate with her and promised her that
he w^ould make her mistress of his wealth, yet he
could not persuade her. <And his heart being
smitten and troubled in his conscience > (p. 36) he
rose up at the dead of the night, and, unseen by all
his people, he fell down from a great height, <and
falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst and
died. And Stratocles, the brother of Aegeates,
sought nothing of his substance — the unhappy one
having died childless — but said, *' Let that which
is thine, Aegeates, go with thee! Christ shall be
my friend and I his servant! ">^
3 For the material within "^^ I have availed myself of the
researches of Schimmelpfeng. A carefully prepared list of
parallel passages is given by Bonnet, p. XVII-XIX.
V
THE ACTS OF THOMAS.
LITERATURE.
Thilo, Acta S. Tltoiuce apostoli, Lipsise, 1823.
Tischendorf, Acta Apost. apocrypha, 1851.
Lipsius, Apokryphe Apostelgeschichten, I, 225-347 ; II, 2, 422 f.
Macke, Theologische Quartalschrift, 1874, p. i f.
Hiarnack, Geschicltte der altchristlichen Lttferatur, II, i. p.
545-549-
Bevan, The hymn of the Soul contained in the Syriac Acts
of Thomas in Texts and Studies, 5, 3 (1897).
Ehrhard, Die altcJiristliche Literatur, 1900, p. 163-165.
Burkitt in Journal of theological studies, I (1900), p. 280 ff. ;
II (1901), p. 429; IV (1903), P- 125 fif.
Philipps, " The connection of St. Thomas the Apostle with
India" (Ind. Antiq., 1903, i, p. 1-15).
Bonnet, Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha, II, 2 (1903), p. 99-291.
Hoffman in Zcitschrift fucr nentestamentliche Wisseuschaft,
1903, p. 273-309.
Preuschen, Zwei gnostic he Hymnen, Gieszen, 1904.
Hilgenfeld, "Der Konigssohn und die Perle " {Zcitschrift
fuer wissenschaftliche Theologie, 1904, 229-241).
Raabe-Preuschen in Hennecke, Neutest. Apokryphen, 1904,
473 ff., and in Handbuch (1904) 563 ff.
Bardenhewer, Patrology, p. 106 ff.
According to a tradition, known already to Origen, Thomas
is said to have preached in Parthia. According to a Syriac
tradition he died at Edessa, where a beautiful church was
erected in his honor, in the fourth century. According to
the Acts of Thomas, he is said to have labored in India. This
tradition has been accepted by most writers since the fourth
222
ACTS OF THOMAS 223
century (see Lipsius, I, 227 ff.). To harmonize it with the
already existing tradition which speaks of his labors or
death in Syria, it has been assumed that his remains were
transferred from India to Edessa. Barhebrseus (d. 1286)
even records that the coffin was brought to Edessa under
Bishop Eulogius (end of the fourth century). According
to the Latin Passio (i.e. Consummation) of Thomas (see
Lipsius, I, 144) the transference took place under Alexander
Severus after his victory over Ardasir {2^^ A. D.).
Of his early life we learn from the Acts just as little as
from the New Testament. Here he is sometimes connected
with Matthew (Matt. X, 3), sometimes with Philip (Acts I,
13). Only from the gospel of John we learn that his name
signifies "twin" (XI, 16; XX, 24; XXI, 2). In the Acts
he is called Judas (thus already an ancient Syriac version in
John XIV, 22) with the surname of Thomas (comp. Euseb.,
I, 13, 11), and the surname is explained by this that he was
a twin of Jesus vi^hom he resembled very much (c. 11 f., 31,
39).
Among the books read by Photius (Bibl., 114) was a
volume purporting to be written by Leucius Charinus and
containing the travels of Peter, John, Andrew, Thomas and
Paul. The stichometry of Nicephorus contains a record of
the number of stichoi in the travels of Peter, John, and
Thomas, respectively, viz.: 2,750, 2,600, 1,600. The Acts of
Thomas were held in great estimation especially in Gnostic
circles, among the Encratites (Epiphan, 47, i), the Apostolici
(Epiphan, 61, i), the Manichseans (August against Fausfus,
XXII, 79; against Adinatus, 17, and others), the Priscillians
(Turribius of Astorga in a letter to Idacius and Ceponius s;
see Zahn, Acta Joannis, p. 200).
In preparing his text Bonnet collated twenty-one Greek
manuscripts, the most important of which are a Paris Codex
(1510 from the XI or XII cent. cod. P.) and a Latin Codex
(Vallicellanus B. 35 from the XI cent. cod. U.). Both
these codices alone contain the Acts in a complete form; the
hymn to the soul, hitherto extant only in the Syriac, is
found only in cod. U.
Besides the Greek witnesses the Syriac Acts edited from a
London codex (jNIus. Brit. Syr. Add., 14645, from the year
224 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
936) and translated by W. Wright (Apocryphal Acts of the
Apostles, London, 1871, 1, p. 172-333 ; H, p. 146 f., the text
reprinted, 1892, by Bedjan, Acta martyrum et sanctorum, HI
(1892), p. 3 ff.) are of importance, although they have been
revised already in a Catholic manner. A free Ethiopic ren-
dering of our Acts has been made into English by J. C.
Malan, in The Conflicts of the Holy Apostles, London, 1871,
p. 187 ff. ; E. W. Budge, The Contendings of the Apostles,
I (Ethiopic text, London, 1899) ; II (Engl, transl., 1901), p.
319 ff., 404 ff. A short Greek version closely following the
Ethiopic was published by James in Text and Studies, V. I
(1897), p. 27 ff.
In Latin are extent a Passio and the Miracula heati Thomce
("the Miracles of Blessed Thomas") but in a revised form.
There is also extant an Armenian translation of our Acts;
but the hymn to the soul is wanting.
In the Greek MSS. the matter is divided into thirteen
" deeds," to which may be added as fourteenth the martyr-
dom of Thomas. The Acts of Thomas, whose Gnostic char-
acter is beyond mistake, include some hymns, copied in all
simplicity by orthodox transcribers, who, being ignorant of
Gnostic mythology, did not understand what was meant, but
which betray their heretical origin at once to those who are
acquainted with Gnostic speculations.
It is mainly for the light they throw on Gnostic ideas that
the Acts of Thomas deserve to be studied ; for they are a
mere romance without any historic value. The object of the
Acts seems to have been to delineate a Christian ideal as
presented in Thomas, whose " acts of compassion, and the
cures done by him as a free gift, and still more, his single-
mindedness, and gentleness, and fidelity, show that he is a
just man, or an apostle of the new God whom he preaches;
for he continually fasts and prays, and eats only bread with
salt, and his drink is water, and he wears one coat, whether
in warm weather or in cold, and he takes nothing from any-
one, but gives to others even what he has" (c. 20).
From the Acts we learn some interesting details about the
Gnostic rites, and the agreement of the ritual with that de-
scribed by Cyril of Jerusalem shows that, though most of the
words of the prayers put into the apostle's mouth may be
ACTS OF THOMAS 225
regarded as the invention of the heretical composer of the
Acts, much of the ritual, and possibly even some of the words,
simply represent the usage of the church before these En-
cratites branched off, and which they retained after their
separation.
We also find in these Acts some interesting notices on
" Baptism " and the " Eucharist," besides the copious use
made in these Acts of the New Testament.
Whether the Syriac or the Greek was the original language
of the Acts is difficult to decide, although the opinion is in
favor of the latter. Where we followed another text, espe-
cially the Syriac, the matter is put within < >. A small por-
tion of the Acts has been translated into English by A.
Walker for the Ante-Nicene Christian Library (Edinburgh,
1867 seq.) ; chaps. 39, 40, 41, 62-158 are omitted, because the
matter was not in Tischendorf's text. We refer to this fact
to show the importance of the recension of the text now ex-
tant in Bonnet's edition, which we followed throughout.
The Deeds of the Holy Apostle Thomas.
(Aa. II, 2, p. 99-288.)
<FIRST DEED OF THE APOSTLE JUDAS THOMAS.
HOW THE LORD SOLD HIM TO THE MERCHANT
ABBAN, THAT HE SHOULD GO DOWN AND CONVERT
INDIA. >
I. At that time we the apostles were all In Jeru-
salem — Simon called Peter, and Andrew his
brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his
brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and
Matthew, the taxgatherer; James son of Alphaeus
and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas the son of
James — and we portioned out the regions of the
world, in order that each one of us might go into
226 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the region that fell to him, and to the nation to
which the Lord had sent him.^ By lot, then, India
fell to Judas Thomas, also called Didymus. And
he did not wish to go, saying that he was not able to
go on account of the weakness of his body, and said,
" How can I, being a Hebrew, go among the In-
dians to proclaim the truth ? " And while he was
thus reasoning and speaking, the Saviour appeared
to him during the night and said to him, " Fear not,
Thomas, go away to India and preach the word
there, for my grace is with thee." But he obeyed
not, saying, " Wherever thou wishest to send me,
send me, (but) elsewhere. For to India I am not
going."
2. And as he was thus speaking and consider-
ing, it happened that a merchant who had come
from India, named Abban, was there, sent from
the King of Gundafor, and having received an
order from him to buy a carpenter and bring him
to him. And the Lord, having seen him walking
about in the market at noon, said to him, " Dost
thou wish to buy a carpenter?" He replied,
" Yes." And the Lord said to him, " I have a
slave a carpenter, and I wish to sell him." And
having said this, he showed him Thomas at a dis-
tance, agreed with him for three pounds of uncoined
(silver), and wrote a bill of sale, saying, " I, Jesus,
iThe legend concerning the labors of the apostles in va-
rious countries are all originally connected with that of their
separation at Jerusalem, which is as old as the second cen-
tury. See " Die Legende von der Aposteltheilung " in Lipsius,
loc cit., p. 11-34-
ACTS OF THOMAS 22/
son of the carpenter Joseph, declare that I have sold
my slave, Judas by name, to thee, Abban, a mer-
chant of Gundafor, King of the Indians." And
the purchase being completed, the Saviour took
Judas, also called Thomas, and led him to Abban,
the Merchant. When Abban saw him, he said to
him, "Is this thy master?" The apostle an-
swered and said, " Yes, he is my Lord." And he
said, " I have bought thee from him." And the
apostle held his peace.
3. On the following morning the apostle prayed
and entreated the Lord, saying, " I go wherever
thou wishest, O Lord Jesus; thy will be done."
And he went to the merchant Abban, carrying noth-
ing at all with him, but only his price. For the
Lord had given it to him, saying, " Let thy worth
also be with thee along with my grace, wherever
thou mayest go." And the apostle came up with
Abban, who w^as carrying his effects into the boat.
He began, therefore, also to carry them along with
him. And when they had gone on board and sat
down, Abban questioned the apostle, saying, " What
kind of work dost thou know ? " And he said, " In
wood, plows, and yokes, and balances, and boats,
and boats' oars, and masts and small blocks; in
stone, slabs, and temples and royal palaces." And
Abban the merchant said to him, " (it is well,) for
such a workman we also need." They began there-
fore, to sail way. And they had a fair w^ind ; and
they sailed cheerfully till they came to Andrapolis,
a royal city.
228 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
4. And having left the boat, they went into the
city. And, behold, the voices of flute-players and
of water-organs, and trumpets sounding round
them. And the apostle inquired, saying, " What
festival is this in this city?" And the inhabitants
there answered, " the gods have brought thee also,
that thou mayest be feasted in this city. For the
King has an only daughter and now he is going
to give her to a husband in marriage. This fes-
tival, then, which thou seest to-day, is the rejoic-
ing and public assembly for the marriage. And
the King has sent forth heralds to proclaim every-
where that all are to come to the marriage, rich
and poor, bond and free, strangers and citizens.
But if anyone should refuse and not come to the
marriage, he is answerable to the King. And Ab-
ban, having heard, said to the apostle, " Let us also
go, that we give no offense to the King, and es-
pecially as we are strangers." And he said, " Let
us go." And having turned into the inn, and
rested a little, they went to the marriage. And the
apostle, seeing them all reclining, reclined also in
their midst. And they all looked at him as a
stranger, and coming from a foreign land. And
Abban the merchant, as being a lord, reclined in
another place.
5. And whilst they were eating and drinking,
the apostle tasted nothing. Those about him said
to him, " Why hast thou come hither, neither eat-
ing nor drinking? " And he answered and said
to them, " For something greater than food or
ACTS OF THOMAS 229
even drink have I come hither, that I might ac-
compHsh the will of the King. For the heralds pro-
claim the wishes of the King, and whoever will not
hear the heralds will be liable to the judgment of
the King." When, therefore, they had dined and
drunk, and crowns and perfumes had been brought,
each took perfume, and one anointed his face,
another his chin, and one one part of his body, and
another another. And the apostle anointed the
crown of his head, and put a little of the ointment
in his nostrils, and dropped it also in his ears, and
applied it also to his teeth, and carefully anointed
the parts round about his heart ; but the crown that
was brought to him, wreathed of myrtle and other
flowers, he put on his head, and took a branch of
reed in his hand, and held it. And the flute-girl,
holding the flutes in her hand, went round them all ;
and when she came to the place where the apostle
was, she stood over him, playing the flute over his
head a long time. And that flute-girl was Hebrew
by race.
6, And as the apostle looked to the ground, one
of the cupbearers stretched forth his hand and
struck him. And the apostle, having raised his
eyes, looked at him who had struck him. saying,
" My God will forgive thee for this wrong in the
world to come, but in this world he will show his
wonders, and I shall soon see that hand that struck
me dragged along by dogs. And having thus
spoken, he began to sing and to repeat this song:
230 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
" The maiden is the daughter of the Hght,
On whom rests the majestic splendor of Kings;
Dehghtsome is her sight,
Resplendant with brilHant beauty.
Her garments are Hke spring flowers
Sending forth sweet fragrance.
On the crown of her head the King is seated
Feeding with his ambrosia those who live under
him
Truth rests upon her head,
Joy she shows forth with her feet.
Her mouth is opened, and becomingly
<She sings all hymns with it.>
Thirty-and-two are they who praise her.
Her tongue is like a door-curtain.
Drawn back for them who go in.^
Her neck ascends like steps
Made by the first creator.
Her two hands point predicting at the chorus of the
blessed ages,
Her fingers at the gates of the city.
Her chamber is bright.
Breathing forth scent from balsam and every per-
fume,
Sending forth sweet odor of myrrh and savory
herbs.
Within are strewn myrtle-branches and all manner
of sweet smelling flowers.
The ingress is adorned with* calamus.
2 The Syriac reads here : drawn back by the priest who
goes in.
ACTS OF THOMAS 231.
7. She is surrounded by her groomsmen, seven in
number,
Chosen by herself;
Her bridesmaids are seven,
Who dance before her.
Twelve are they in number who minister before
her
And are at her bidding.
Their gaze is attentively directed at the bridegroom,
That they be enlightened by his sight,
And be for ever with him for that everlasting joy
And sit down in that wedding to which the great
ones assemble.
And abide in the supper, of which the eternals are
deemed worthy,
And put on royal garments, and be dressed in shin-
ing robes
That both may rejoice and exult
And praise the Father of the universe,
Whose majestic light they have received
And have been enlightened by the sight of their
Lord,
Whose ambrosial food they received
Of which there is no failing.
And drink also of his wine,
Which brings to them no thirst nor desire,
Praised and glorified w4th the living spirit
The Father of truth and the mother of wisdom." ^
3 On this ode which Thomas is said to have recited in
Hebrew, see Lipsius, loc. cit., p. 301 f . ; Preuschen, loc. cit.,
p. 28 f.
232 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
8. And when he had sung and finished this song,
all who were present looked at him. He kept si-
lence. They also saw his form changed, but they
understood not his words, as he was a Hebrew and
his words were spoken in Hebrew. Only the flute-
girl understood it, being of the Hebrew race; and
hearing him, she played the flute to the others, but
repeatedly looking at him. For she loved him as
one belonging to her nation, and he was also beau-
tiful in appearance above all who were there. And
when the flute-girl had finished her flute-playing,
she sat down opposite him, and looked and gazed
at him. But he looked at no one at all, neither did
he regard any one, but only kept his eyes on the
ground, waiting until he could depart thence. And
the cup-bearer that struck him came down to the
fountain to draw water. And there happened to
be a lion there which killed him and left him lying
in the place, after tearing up his limbs. And dogs
immediately seized his limbs, among which also
one black dog, laying hold of his right hand in his
mouth, brought it to the place of the banquet.
9. When they saw it, they were frightened and
all inquired who it were which had left them. And
when it became known that it was the hand of the
cup-bearer that struck the apostle, the flute-girl
broke her flutes and threw them away, and went
and sat at the feet of the apostle, saying, " This man
is either God or God's apostle. For I heard him
say in Hebrew to the cup-bearer, I shall soon see
the hand that struck me dragged about by dogs —
ACTS OF THOMAS 233
which also you have now seen. For as he said, so
also it has come to pass." Some believed her, and
some not. And when the King heard of it, he
came and said to the apostle, " Rise up and go with
me, and pray for my daughter. For she is my
only child and to-day I give her away." And the
apostle would not go with him, for the Lord had not
yet been revealed to him there. But the King took
him away against his will to the bridal chamber,
that he might pray for them.
10. And the apostle stood, and began to pray
and speak thus : " My Lord and my God, who
accompanies thy servants, guide and leader of those
who believe on thee, refuge and repose of the af-
flicted, hope of the poor and deliverer of the cap-
tives, physician of the souls that are lying under
disease, and Saviour of every creature, who gives
life to the world and invigorates the souls, thou
knowest the future, who also accomplishes it
through us; thou. Lord, who revealest hidden mys-
teries and declarest secret words; thou. Lord, art
the planter of the good tree and by thy hand all
good works are produced; thou. Lord, art in all,
and comest through all, and exists in all thy works
and makest thyself manifest through the working
of all; Jesus Christ, the Son of compassion and
perfect Saviour; Christ, Son of the living God, the
undaunted Power which has overthrown the enemy ;
the voice, heard by the rulers, which shook all their
powers; messenger, sent from on high, who wentest
down even to Hades ; who also, having opened the
234 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
doors, didst bring out thence those that had been
shut in for many ages in the treasuries of darkness,
and didst show them the way up that leads up on
high — I beseech thee, Lord Jesus, offering thee
supplication for these young persons, that thou
mayest do unto them what helps, benefits them, and
is good for them." And having laid his hands on
them and said, " The Lord be with you," he left
them in the place, and went away.
11. And the King requested the groomsmen to
leave the bridal chamber. When all had left, and
the doors were shut, the bridegroom raised the cur-
tain of the bridal chamber, that he might bring the
bride to himself. And he saw the Lord Jesus talk-
ing with the bride, and having the appearance of
Judas Thomas, the apostle, who shortly before had
blessed them, and gone out from them ; and he says
to him, " Didst thou not go out before them all ?
And how is it that thou art here now? And the
Lord said to him, " I am not Judas, sur-named
Thomas; I am his brother." And the Lord sat
down on the bed, and ordered them to sit down on
couches, and he began to say to them : •
12. " Remember, my children, what my brother
said to you, and to whom he commended you; and
know, that if you refrain from this filthy intercourse
you become temples holy and pure, being released
from afflictions and troubles, known and unknown,
and you will not be involved in the cares of life,
and of children, whose end is destruction. But if
you get many children, for their sakes you become
ACTS OF THOMAS 235
grasping and avaricious, plundering orphans, de-
ceiving widows, and by doing this you subject your-
selves to most grievous punishments. For most
children become unprofitable, being harassed by de-
mons, some openly and others secretly. For they
become either lunatics, or half-withered, or frail, or
deaf, or dumb, or paralytics, or idiots. And
though the}^ be healthy, they will be again good-
for-nothing, doing unprofitable and abominable
works. For they will be detected either in adultery,
or in murder, or in theft, or in unchastity, and by
all these you will be afliicted. But if you obey and
preserve your souls pure to God, there will be born
to you living children, untouched by these hurtful
things, and you will be without care, spending an un-
troubled life, free from grief and care, looking for-
ward to receive that incorruptible and true mar-
riage, and you will enter as groomsmen into that
bridal chamber full of immortality and light."
13. And when the young people heard this, they
believed the Lord and gave themselves over to him,
and refrained from filthy lust, and remained thus
spending the night in the place. And the Lord
went away from them, after having said to them :
"the grace of the Lord be with you!" And the
dawn having come on, the King arrived, and hav-
ing supplied the table, brought it in before the
bridegroom and the bride. And he found them
sitting opposite each other, and he found the face
of the bride uncovered, and the bridegroom was
quite cheerful. And the mother came in and said
236 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
to the bride, " .Wherefore dost thou sit thus, child,
and art not ashamed, but actest as if thou hadst
for a long time lived with thine own husband?"
And her father said, " It is because of thy great
love to thy husband that thou art uncovered?"
14. And the bride answered and said, " Truly,
father, I am in great love, and I pray to my Lord
to continue to me the love which I have experienced
this night, and that I obtain that man whom I have
experienced to-day. That I do not cover myself
is, because the mirror of shame has been taken
away from me ; I am no longer ashamed or abashed,
since the work of shame and bashfulness has been
removed far from me. And that I am not fright-
ened is, because fright did not abide in me. And
that I am cheerful and glad is, because the day of
joy has not been disturbed. And that I have lightly
esteemed this husband, and these nuptials that have
passed away, from before mine eyes, is, because I
have been joined in a different marriage. And that
I had no conjugal intercourse with a temporary hus-
band, whose end is repentance and bitterness of
soul, is, because I have been united to the true
husband."
15. And when the bride was saying yet more,
the bridegroom answered and said, " I thank thee.
Lord, who hast been proclaimed by the stranger
and found by us; who hast put corruption far from
me, and hast sown life in me, who hast delivered
me from this disease, hard to heal, and hard to
treat, and abiding for ever, and established in me
ACTS OF THOMAS 237
sound health; who hast shown thyself to me, and
hast revealed to me my condition, in which I am;
who hast redeemed me from falling, and hast led
me to something better and who hast released me
from things temporary, but hast deemed me worthy
of things immortal and ever existing; who hast
brought thyself down even to me and my weakness,
to place me beside thy greatness and to unite with
thee; who hast not kept thy compassion from me,
who was lost, but hast shown me how to search
myself, and to know who I was and who and how I
am now, that I may become again what I was;
whom I did not know, but thou hast sought me out ;
of whom I did not know, but thou stoodst by me;
whom I have experienced and am not able to for-
get; whose love is fervent in me and of whom I
cannot speak as I ought. But what I have to say
about him is short and very little, and is not in pro-
portion to his glory; but he does not find fault with
me if I dare to tell him that also, that I know not;
for out of love to him I say even this."
16. And when the King heard these things
from the bridegroom and the bride, he rent his gar-
mentSj and said to those standing near him, " Go
out quickly, and search the whole city, and seize
and bring that man, the sorcerer, who has come
for evil into this city. For I led him with my own
hands into my house, and I told him to pray for my
most unfortunate daughter. Whoever shall find
him and bring him to me, I give him whatever he
shall ask of me." They went away, therefore, and
238 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
went round seeking him, and found him not ; for he
had sailed. They also went into the inn where he
had stayed, and found there the flute-girl weeping
and in distress, because he had not taken her with
him. And when they told her what had taken
place with the young people, she rejoiced greatly
upon hearing it, dismissed her grief, and said,
" Now I also have found repose here ! " And she
arose and went to them, and was with them a long
time, until they had instructed the King also. And
many also of the brethren met there, until the rumor
had spread that the apostle had gone to the cities
of India, and was teaching there. And they went
away and joined him.
Second Deed of the Apostle Thomas
his appearance before king gundafor.
(Aa. II, 2, pp. 124-146.)
17. When the apostle came into the cities of
India, with Abban the merchant, Abban went away
to salute King Gundafor, and reported to him about
the carpenter whom he had brought with him.
And the King was glad, and ordered him to ap-
pear before him. Having come in, the King said
to him, " What trade knowest thou? " The apostle
said to him, " That of the carpenter and the house-
builder." Says the King to him, " What work in
wood knowest thou, and what in stone." The
apostle says, " In wood, plows, yokes, balances,
ACTS OF THOMAS 239
pulleys, and boats, and oars and masts; in stone
monuments, temples, and royal palaces." And the
King said, " Wilt thou build me a palace ? " And
he answered, " Yes, I shall build it, and finish it ;
for because of this I have come, to build and to do
carpenter's work."
18. And the King having accepted him, took
him out of the gates of the city, and began to talk
with him on the way about the building of the
palace, and how the foundations should be laid, till
they came to the place where the building was to
be carried out. And he said, " Here I w^ish the
building to be ! " And the apostle said, " Yes, for
this place is appropriate for the building." For the
place was like a wood, and much water was there.
And the King says, " Begin at once ! " And he an-
swered, " Now I cannot commence." Says the
King, "When wilt thou?" He said, "I shall be-
gin in November and finish in April." And the
King was surprised, and said, " Each building is
built in the summer, but canst thou build and finish
a palace in the winter?" And the apostle says,
" Thus it must be done, and otherwise it is impos-
sible." And the King said, " If thou hast resolved
upon this, mark out for me how the work is to be
done, since I shall come here after some time."
And the Apostle took a reed, measured the place,
and marked it out; the doors to be set towards the
rising of the sun, to look to the light, the windows
toward the west, to the winds; the bakehouse he
made toward the south, and the water-pipes neces-
240 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
sary for the service, toward the north. When the
King saw this, he said to the apostle, " Thou art
truly a craftsman, and it is fitting that thou shouldst
serve Kings." And having left many things for
him, he went away.
19. And at the appointed time he sent coined
silver and the necessaries for his and the workmen's
living. And he took everything and divided it, go-
ing about in the cities and surrounding villages, dis-
tributing to the poor and needy, and spending alms,
and gave them recreation, saying, " The King
knows how to obtain royal recompense, but the poor
must be refreshed, as the condition requires it."
After this the King sent a messenger to the apostle,
having written the following : *' Let me know
what thou hast done, or what I should send to thee
or what thou needest." The apostle sends to him
word, saying, " The palace is built, and only the
roof remains to be done." Upon hearing this, the
King sent him again gold and uncoined silver and
wrote, " Let the palace, if it be done, be roofed."
And the apostle said to the Lord, " I thank thee.
Lord, in every respect, that thou didst die for a
short time, that I may live in thee for ever, and that
thou hast sold me, to deliver many through me."
And he did not cease to teach and refresh the af-
flicted, saying, " The Lord hath dispensed this to
you, and he gives to each his food. For he is the
support of the orphans and the provider of the
widows, and rest and repose to all that are af-
flicted."
ACTS OF THOMAS 241
20. When the King came to the city, he inquired
of his friends concerning the palace which Judas,
surnamed Thomas, had built for him. And they
said to him, " He has neither built a palace nor did
he do anything of that which he promised to do
but he goes about in the cities and villages, and if
he has anything, he gives it to the poor, and teaches
a new God, takes care of the sick, drives out de-
mons, and performs many miracles. And we be-
lieve that he is a magician. But his acts of com-
passion and the cures done by him as a free gift,
still more his single-mindedness, and gentleness, and
fidelity, show that he is a just man, or an apostle
of the new God, whom he preaches. For he con-
tinually fasts and prays, and eats only bread with
salt, and his drink is water, and he wears one coat,
whether in warm weather or in cold, and he takes
nothing from anyone, but gives to others what he
has." Upon hearing this, the King stroked his face
with his hands, shaking his head for a long time.
21. And he sent for the merchant who had
brought him, and for the apostle, and said to him,
" Hast thou built the palace ? " And he said, " Yes,
I have built it." The King said, " When shall we
go to inspect it?" And he repeated and said,
" Now thou canst not see it, but thou shalt see it
when thou hast departed this life." And the King
was very wroth, and ordered both the merchant and
Judas Thomas to be bound and cast into prison,
until he should find out to whom the property of
the King had been given, and thus destroy him and
242 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
the merchant. And the apostle went to prison re-
joicing, and said to the merchant, " Fear nothing,
beheve only in the God which is preached by me,
and thou shalt be freed from this world, and obtain
life in the world to come."
And the King considered by what death he should
kill them. Having decided to flog them and burn
them with fire, on that very night Gad, the King's
brother fell ill; and through the grief and imposi-
tion which the King suffered he was grievously
depressed. And having sent for the King, he said
to him, " Brother King, I commend to thee my
house and my children. For I have been grieved on
account of the insult that has befallen thee, and lo!
I am dying, and if thou dost not proceed against
the life of that magician, thou wilt give my soul no
rest in Hades." And the King said to his brother,
'* I considered the whole night by what death I
should kill him, and I have decided to flog him and
burn him with fire together with the merchant who
brought him hither."
22. While they were talking, the soul of Gad,
his brother, departed, and the King mourned for
Gad exceedingly, because he loved him, and or-
dered him to be prepared for burial in a royal and
costly robe. While this was going on, angels re-
ceived the soul of Gad, the King's brother, and
took it up into heaven, showing him the places and
mansions there, asking him, " In what place dost
thou wish to dwell?" And when they came near
the edifice of the apostle Thomas, which he had
ACTS OF THOMAS 243
erected for the King, Gad, upon beholding it, said
to the angels, " I entreat you, my lords, let me
dwell in one of these subterranean chambers."
But they said to him, " In this building thou canst
not dwell." And he said, " Why not ? " They an-
swered, " This palace is that which that Christian
has built for thy brother." But he said, " I en-
treat you, my lords, allow me to go to my brother
to buy this palace from him. For my brother
knows not what it is like, and he will sell it to
me."
2T,. And the angels let the soul of Gad go. And
as they were putting on him the burial robe his
soul came into him. And he said to those standing
round him, " Call my brother to me, that I may
beg of him a request." Straightway they sent the
good news to their King, saying, " Thy brother has
become alive again ! " And the King started up,
and with a great multitude went to his brother.
And having come in he went to the bed as if stupe-
fied, unable to speak to him. And his brother said,
" I know and I am convinced, brother, that if any-
one had asked of thee the half of thy kingdom,
thou wouldst give it for my sake. Wherefore I
entreat thee to grant one favor, which I beg of thee
to do me, that thou sellest to me that which I ask
of thee." And the King answered and said, " And
what is it that thou wishest me to sell to thee ? "
And he said, " Assure me by an oath that thou wilt
grant it to me." And the King swore to him,
" Whatever of my possession thou slialt ask, I will
244 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
give thee." And he says to him, " Sell me the
palace which thou hast in heaven." And the King
said, " A palace in heaven — whence comes this to
me? " And he said, " (it is) that which that Chris-
tian built for thee, who is now in prison, whom the
merchant brought, having bought him from a cer-
tain Jesus. I mean that Hebrew slave whom thou
didst wish to punish, as having suffered some im-
position from him, on account of whom I also was
grieved and died, and now have come alive again."
24. Then the King heard and understood (his
words) about the eternal benefits that were con-
ferred upon him and destined for him, and said,
" the palace I cannot sell thee, but I pray to be per-
mitted to enter into it and to dwell there, being
deemed worthy to belong to its inhabitants. And if
thou wilt really buy such a palace, behold, the man
is alive, and will build thee a better one than that."
And having sent immediately, he brought out of
prison the apostle, and the merchant who had been
shut up along with him, saying, " I entreat thee, as
a man entreating the servant of God, pray for me,
and to ask him whose servant thou art to pardon me
and to overlook what I have done to thee or in-
tended to do, and that I may become worthy to be
an inhabitant of that house for which indeed I have
done nothing, but which thou laboring alone hast
built for me with the help of the grace of thy God,
and that I may also become a servant and serve this
God, whom thou preachest." His brother also fell
down before the apostle, and said, " I entreat thee
ACTS OF THOMAS 245
and supplicate before thy God, that I may become
worthy of his service and become partaker of that
which was shown to me by his angels."
25. And the apostle seized with joy, said, " I
give thanks to thee, Lord Jesus, that thou hast re-
vealed thy truth in these men. For thou alone art
the God of truth and not another; and thou art he
who knowest all things that are unknown to many ;
thou, O Lord, art he who in all things showest
mercy and compassion to men. For men, through
the error that is in them, have overlooked thee, but
thou hast not overlooked them. And now, be-
cause I entreat thee and supplicate thee, accept the
King and his brother, and unite them into thy fold,
cleanse them by thy baptism, and anoint them with
thy oil from the error which encompasses them.
Protect them also from the wolves and bring them
into thy meadows. Give them to drink of thy am-
brosial fountain, which is never muddy and never
faileth. For they entreat and supplicate thee, and
wish to become thy servants, and on this account
they have also resolved to be persecuted by thine
enemies, and to endure for thy sake hatred, insult,
and death, as thou also hast suffered all this for our
sakes, in order to gain us, who art Lord and a truly
good shepherd. Do thou grant unto them that they
put their trust alone in thee, and obtain the hope
coming from thee and hope of their salvation, which
they expect alone from thee, and that they may be
confirmed in thy mysteries and receive the perfect
benefits of thy graces and gifts, and flourish in thy
246 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
service and bear fruit to perfection in thy Father."
26. Very friendly disposed now toward the
apostle, King Gundafor and his brother Gad fol-
lowed him, never leaving him, providing for the
poor, giving to all, and relieving all. And they en-
treated him that they might also receive the seal of
the word, saying to him, " Since our souls are at
ease, and as we are earnest about God, give us the
seal. For we heard thee say, that the Lord whom
thou preachest knoweth his sheep through his seal."
And the apostle said to them, *' I am glad and en-
treat you also to receive this seal, and to take part
with me in this eucharist and blessed meal of the
Lord, and to be made perfect by it. For he is the
Lord and God of all, Jesus Christ, whom I preach,
and he is the Father of truth, in whom I have
taught you to believe." And he ordered them to
bring oil, that through the oil they might receive
the seal. And they brought oil and lighted many
lamps. For it was night.
27. And the apostle arose, and sealed them.
And the Lord was revealed to them, through a
voice saying, "Peace to you, brethren!" And
they heard his voice only, but his form they saw
not. For they had not yet received the sealing up
of the seal. And the apostle took the oil, poured
it over their head, salved and anointed them, and
began to say : ^
1 On this Gnostic dedication-prayer, see Lipsius, 1. c, p.
311 ff.
ACTS OF THOMAS 247
" Come, holy name of Christ, which is above
every name ; ^
Come, power of the Most High, and perfect
compassion ;
Come, gift most high;
Come, compassionate mother ; ^
Come, communion of the male; ^
Come, revealer of secret mysteries;
Come, mother of the seven houses, that there
may be rest for thee in the eighth house. ^
Come, thou presbyter of the five members : ^ in-
telligence, thought, prudence, reflection, reason-
ing/
Communicate with these young persons!
Come, spirit of holiness, and purify their veins
and their hearts,^
And seal them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
And when they had been sealed, there appeared
to them a young man holding a burning lamp, so
that the (other) lamps were even darkened by the
emanation of its light. And he went out, and dis-
appeared from their sight. And the apostle said
to the Lord, " Thy light is too great for us. Lord,
2 " Which is above every name " is omitted in the Syriac.
3 This line is omitted in the Syriac.
4 Syriac : Communion of the blessing.
s Syriac : seven houses, which has found rest in the eighth
house.
•^ Syr. : come, thou messenger of reconciliation.
^ Syr. omits : intelligence . . . reasoning.
s Syr. omits this line and reads after " persons " : and he
sealed them, etc., etc.
248 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
and we cannot bear it. For it is too much for our
sight." And when Hght came, and it was dawn,
he brake bread, and made them partakers of the
eucharist of the Messiah. And they rejoiced and
exulted. And many others also believed, and
were added (to the believers), and came to the
refuge of the Saviour.
28. And the apostle ceased not preaching and
saying to them, " Men and women, boys and girls,
young men and maidens, vigorous and aged, both
bond and free, withhold yourselves from fornica-
tion, covetousness, and gluttony. For under these
three heads all wickedness comes. For fornica-
tion maims the mind and darkens the eyes of the
soul, and becomes a hindrance of the due regula-
tion of the body, changing the whole man into fee-
bleness, and throwing the whole body into disease.
Greediness puts the soul into fear and shame, being
[inside of the body, and] robs what belongs to an-
other, and suspects that in returning to the own-
ers their property, it will be put to shame. Glut-
tony throws the soul into cares, troubles and
griefs, fearing that it will be wanting, and
reaches out for that which is far away. In re-
fraining from these things, you are without care,
without grief, and without fear, and there remains
to you that which was said by the Saviour: Take
no care for the morrow, for the morrow will take
care of itself.^ Remember also the word men-
9 Matt. VI, 34.
ACTS OF THOAIAS 249
tioned before: Look upon the ravens, ^^ and be-
hold the fowls of the heaven, that they neither sow
nor reap, nor gather into barns, and God takes
care of them; how much more, O ye of little
faith! But look for his coming, have your hopes
in him, and believe in his name. For he is the
judge of the living and of the dead,^^ and he re-
quites to each one according to his deeds. ^^ And
at his coming and appearance at last, no one, who
is about to be judged by him, has a word of ex-
cuse, as if he had not heard. For his heralds
preach in the four quarters of the globe. Repent,
therefore, and believe the preaching and take upon
you an easy yoke and a light burden, ^^ that you
may live and not die. These things lay hold of,
these things keep; come forth from the darkness,
that the light may receive you ! Come to him who
is truly good, that from him you may receive
grace, and place his sign upon your souls!"
29. When he had thus said, some of the by-
standers said to him, " It is time for the creditor
to receive his debt." And he said to them, " The
creditor, indeed, always wishes to receive more,
but let us give him what is proper." And [hav-
ing blessed them] he took bread, oil, herbs, and
salt, blessed it, and gave it to them. And he con-
tinued in his fastings, for the Lord's day was
about to dawn. And on the night following,
loComp. Luke XII, 24; Matt. VI, 26.
11 Comp. Acts X, 42.
12 Comp. Matt. XVI, 2"].
13 Comp. Matt. XI, 29, 30.
250 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
while he was asleep, the Lord came and stood by
his head, and said, " Thomas, rise up eady, and
bless them all; and after the prayer and service go
along the eastern road two miles, and there I will
show my glory through thee. For because of the
work, for which thou goest away, many will take
refuge in me, and thou shalt reprove the nature
and power of the enemy." And he rose from his
sleep and said to the brethren who were with him,
" Children and brethren, the Lord will this day
perform something through me. Let us, how-
ever, pray and entreat him that nothing may be a
hindrance to us toward him, but as at all times let
it now also be done unto us according to his pur-
pose and will. And having thus spoken, he laid
his hands upon them and blessed them. And hav-
ing broken the bread of the eucharist, he gave it to
them, saying, " May this eucharist be to you for
compassion and mercy, and not for judgment and
retribution!" And they said, "Amen."
Third Deed.
about the dragon.
(Aa. pp. 147-156).
30. And the apostle went forth to go where the
Lord had bidden him. And when he came (near)
the second milestone he turned a little out of the
way, and saw the body of a beautiful youth lying,
and he said. " Lord, was it this that thou brought-
ACTS OF THOMAS 25 1
est me out to come here, that I might see this
trial? Thy will, therefore, be done, as thou pur-
posest !" And he began to pray, and to say :
" Lord, judge of the living and the dead, of the
living who stand here, and of the dead, which are
lying (here), and the Lord of all and Father —
Father not of the souls that are still in bodies, but
of those which have left them, because thou art
Lord and Judge of the souls still in the bodies —
come in this hour in which I call upon thee, and
show thy glory upon him that is lying here." And
he turned to his companions and said, " This work
has not happened idly, but the enemy has wrought
and effected this to make an assault, and you see
that he has availed himself of no other form, and
has wrought through no other living being, but
through his subject."
31. And having said this, behold, a great
dragon came forth from his den, knocking his
head, and brandishing his tail down to the ground,
and said with a loud voice to the apostle, " I will
say before thee, why I have killed him, since thou
hast come here to reprove my works." The apos-
tle said, "Yes, say on." And the dragon:
" There is a certain woman in this place exceed-
ingly beautiful. And as she was once passing by,
I saw her and fell in love with her, followed her
and watched her. And I found this young man
kissing her, and he also had intercourse with her,
and did with her other shameful things. And to
me it were an easy matter to tell thee this, <but I
252 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
dare not>. For I know that thou art the twin-
brother of the Messiah, and always bringest our
race to naught. Not wishing to harass her, I did
not kill him in that hour, but I watched him pass-
ing by in the evening, struck him and killed him,
and especially as he had dared to do this on Sun-
day." And the apostle inquired of him, saying,
" Tell me, of what seed and of what race art
thou?"
32, And he said to him, " I am the offspring of
the serpent, and hurtful of the hurtful; I am a son
of him who hurt and struck the four brothers that
stood ; ^ I am son of him who sits on the throne
<and has power over the creature > which is under
the heaven, that takes his own from those to
whom he has lent; I am the son of him who en-
circles the globe ; I am kinsman to him who is out-
side of the ocean, whose tail lies in his mouth ; I
am he who went into paradise through the hedge,
and spoke with Eve what my father bade me speak
to her ; ^ I am he who inflamed and fired Cain to
kill his brother,^ and through me thorns and this-
tles sprang up in the ground ; ^ I am he who cast
down the angels from above, and bound them by
the desire of women, that earthborn children
might be produced by them, and that I might work
^ The Syriac does not mention : the four brothers that
stood; instead: I am the son of him who is like God in the
eyes of those who obey him.
2 Comp. Gen. HI, i.
3 Gen. IV, 5-8.
* Comp. Gen. HI, 18.
ACTS OF THOMAS 253
my will in them ; ^ I am he who hardened Pha-
roah's heart, that he killed the children of Israel
and subjugated them (the Israelites) through
hard servitude ; ^ I am he who deceived the multi-
tude (the people in the desert, when they had made
the golden calf;^ I am he that fired Herod ^ and
inflamed Caiaphas to the lying accusation before
Pilate ; ^ for this became me ; I am he that inflamed
Judas, and brought him to deliver the Messiah to
death ; ^^ I am he that inhabits and holds the abyss
of Tartarus, ^^ and the Son of God has wronged
me against my will and selected his own out of
me; I am a kinsman of him who is to come from
the east,^^ to whom also power is given to do what-
ever he will upon earth."
T,;^. When the dragon had spoken these things
before the ears of the multitude, the apostle lifted
up his voice and said, " Stop now, O thou most
impudent, and be ashamed that thou art wholly
useless (weak). For thine end, the destruction
has come. And do not dare to say what thou
hast done through thy dependents. But I com-
mand thee in the name of that Jesus who even
until now makes a fight against you for the sake of
those who are his own, to suck out the poison
^ Comp. Gen. VI, 1-4.
^ Comp. Exod. I sqq.
7 Comp. Exod. XXXII.
8 Comp. Matt. II.
9 Matt. XXVI, 3-
10 Comp. Matt. XXVII, 11 seq. ; XXVI, 14-16.
11 Comp. Rev. IX, II.
12 Antichrist is probably meant.
254 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
which thou hast put into this man, and to draw it
forth and take it out of him!" And the dragon
said, "' The time of our destruction has not yet
come, as thou didst say. Why dost thou force me
to take out what I have put in him, and to die be-
fore the time? For my father shall also find his
end when he draws forth and sucks out what he
has put into the creation." And the apostle said
to him, " Show now the nature of thy father !
And the dragon came, put his mouth upon the
wound of the young man and sucked the gall (the
poison) out of it. And in a short time the color of
the young man, which was like purple, grew
white, and the dragon swelled. And when the
dragon had drawn up all the gall into himself, the
young man sprang up and stood, and ran and fell
at the apostle's feet. And the dragon being
swelled up shrieked out and died, and his poison
and gall were poured forth. And in the place
where his poison was poured forth there was made
a great chasm, and the dragon was swallowed up.
And the apostle said to the king and to his brother,
" Take workmen, and fill up the place and
lay foundations, and build houses above it, that
there be a dwelling place for strangers."
34. And the young man said to the apostle
with many tears, " What have I sinned against
thee? For thou art a man having two forms,
and wherever thou wishest, thou art found, and
art not prevented by anyone, as I see. For I saw
that man how he stood beside thee, and also
ACTS OF THOMAS 255
said to thee, ' I have many wonders to show by
thee, and I have to accomphsh great works
through thee, by which thou shalt obtain a reward,
and thou shalt make many to Hve, and they shall be
in repose in eternal life, as the children of God.
Do thou, therefore, said he, raise this young man
— whereby he meant me — who has been cast
cast down by the enemy and became his overseer at
every time.' Thou hast done well to come hither,
and again thou shalt well go away to him, being
not at all forsaken by him. And I have been re-
leased from care and reproach, and a light rose
upon me, (and I was released) from the care of
the night and rested from the daily work; but I
was also released from him who exasperated me
to do these things. I sinned against him, who
taught me the contrary, and I have destroyed that
kinsman of the night, which forces me to sin by
his own practices ; but I found, however, that kins-
man of mine who is like the light. I have de-
stroyed him that darkens and obscures his sub-
jects, that they know not what they do, and,
ashamed of their works, they abandon them and
their deeds have an end. But I found him, whose
works are light and whose deeds are truth, of
which no one repents, whoever does them. I was
released from him, in whom falsehood abides,
whom darkness as a covering goes before, and
shame, impudent in idleness, follows after. But
I found him, who revealed to me what is beautiful
to lay hold of it, the Son of truth, the kinsman of
256 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
concord, who, driving away the mist, enhghtens
his creation, heals its wounds, and overthrows its
enemies. But I entreat thee, man of God, make
me again to behold and see him who is now hidden
from me, that I may hear also his voice, whose
wonder fulness I cannot express. For it is not of
the nature of this bodily organ."
35. And the apostle answered and said to him,
"If thou hast released thyself from those things,
whose nature, as thou hast said, thou hast known
and knowest, who he is who has wrought these
things in thee, and hast learned and become a fol-
lower of him,' after whom thou now longest
through thy ardent love, thou shalt see him and be
with him for ever in his repose and in his joy.
But if thou art rather carelessly disposed toward
him, and again returnest to thy former deeds, and
lettest go that beauty and that beaming counte-
nance which has now been displayed in thee, and
if the splendor of his light, after which thou now
longest, is entirely hidden from thee, thou shalt be
deprived not only of this life, but also of the fu-
ture, and thou shalt go to him of whom thou didst
say that thou hast destroyed him, and thou shalt
see him no more whom thou hast said thou hast
found."
36. And when the apostle had said this, he
went to the city, holding the young man by the
hand, and saying " What thou hast seen, child, is
only a little of the many things which God has.
For not concerning these visible things preaches
ACTS OF THOMAS 257
he the gospel to us, but he promises to us greater
things than these. So long as we are in the body,
we cannot tell and say what he will give to our
souls in the future. For if we say that he gives
us light, this is something visible and we have it
already. But if we say that he will give us riches,
they exist and appear already in this world, and
we name them and we long not for them, since it
has been said : ' With difficulty will a rich man
enter into the kingdom of heaven. '^^ And if we
speak of fine cloaks, which the weaklings put on
in this life, we name them, and it has been said,
' they that wear soft things are in Kings'
houses.'^'* And when we speak of costly dinners,
we mention things that exist, and concerning these
we have received a commandment to take heed to
ourselves, lest at any time our hearts be over-
charged with surfeiting, and drunkenness and
cares of this life;^^ and it has been said, ' Take no
thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye
shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall
put on. For the life is more than meat, and the
body than raiment.^*' And if we speak of this
temporary rest, its judgment has also been ap-
pointed. And we speak about the upper world,
about God and angels, about watchmen and saints,
about the ambrosial food and the drink of the
true wine, about lasting and not obsolescent gar-
13 Matt. XIX, 23.
i*Matt. XI, 8
15 Comp. Luke XXI, 34.
18 Matt. VI, 25.
258 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ments, about that which eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, nor hath come into the heart of sinful
men what God has prepared for those that love
him.^'^ Of these things we speak, and concerning
these things we preach the gospel. Do thou also,
therefore, believe in him, that thou mayest live,
and put thy trust in him, and thou shalt not die.
For he is not to be persuaded by gifts, that thou
shouldest offer them to him; nor does he need sac-
rifices, that thou sacrifice to him. But look to
him, and he will not overlook thee ; turn thou to him,
and he will not forsake thee. For his comeliness
and beauty will make thee love him, but it permits
thee not to turn away from him."
37. And after the apostle had said this, much
people were added to the young man. And look-
ing about, the apostle noticed how they lifted them-
selves up to see him,^^ and they went up into ele-
vated places. And the apostle said to them, " Ye
men who have come to the assembly of the Mes-
siah, and who wish to believe in Jesus, learn from
this, and see that if you do not get high up you
cannot see me, who am small, and cannot look at
me, who am like yourselves. Now if you cannot
see me, who am like yourselves, unless you raise
yourselves a little from the earth, how can you see
him who lives above and is [now] found below, un-
less you first raise yourselves out of your former
behavior, and unprofitable deeds and desires, which
1^ Comp. I Cor. H, 9.
18 Comp. Luke XIX, 4.
ACTS OF THOMAS 259
last not, and of your riches, which must be left be-
hind, and of the possession which is of the earth
and grows old, and of garments which spoil and of
the beauty which ages and vanishes away, yea, even
of the whole body, in which all this is kept, and it
grows old and becomes dust, returning into its own
nature ? For all these things are only a support for
the body. But rather believe in our Lord Jesus
Christ, whom we proclaim, that your hope may be
upon him and you have in him the eternal life, that
he may be your companion in this land of wander-
ing, a haven in this troublous sea and an overflowing
fountain in this thirsty land and a house full of
food in the place of the hungry, and rest for your
souls, and also a physician of the bodies."
38. When the multitude of the assembled heard
these things, they wept and said to the apostle,
" Man of God, we dare not say that we belong to
that God whom thou preachest, because our works
which we have done are alien from him, not pleas-
ing to him. But if he has compassion upon us and
pities us, and delivers us, overlooking our former
deeds and frees us from the evil which we have
done, when we were in error, and takes not into ac-
count nor keeps the recollection of our former sins,
we shall become his servants, and we shall do his
will to the end." And the apostle answered and
said to them, " He neither condemns you nor does
he reckon against you the sins done by you, being
in error, but he overlooks your transgressions which
you have done ignorantly."
260 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Fourth Deed.
concerning the colt.
(Aa. pp. 156-159-)
39. Whilst the apostle was still standing in the
highway and spoke to the multitude, a colt of an ass
came up to him and, opening its mouth, said, " Twin
brother of the Messiah, apostle of the Most high
and initiated into the hidden word of the Messiah,
who receivest his secret utterances, coworker of
the Son of God, who, though once free, hast been a
servant, and being sold hast brought many to free-
dom, kinsman of the great race which condemns
the enemy and redeemed its property (from him),
who to many in the land of the Indians didst be-
come a cause of life — because thou earnest to err-
ing men, and through thy appearance and thy divine
words they now turn to the God of truth, who hast
sent thee — mount, sit on me and rest, till thou com-
est to the city." And the apostle began and said,
" O Jesus Christ, Son of the perfect mercy, O rest
and calmness, and thou of whom even the unreason-
able animals speak ; O hidden rest, and thou who art
manifest by the working as our Saviour and nour-
isher, who keepest us and makest us rest on strange
bodies, Saviour of our souls, sweet and inexhaust-
ible source, firm, pure fountain which is never trou-
bled, helper and succor of thy servants in the strug-
gle, who keepest and drivest away from us the en-
emy, wlio battiest for us in many battles, and makest
ACTS OF THOMAS 261
US victorious in all, our true and invincible athlete,
our holy and victorious general, most glorious, who
givest to thy people imperishable joy and rest, which
knows of no affliction, good shepherd,^ who didst
offer thyself for thy sheep, didst overcome tlie
wolf and hast redeemed thy sheep and led them to
good pastures — we praise and glorify thee and thy
invisible Father and thy Holy Spirit [and] the
mother of all creatures."
40. When the apostle said this, the whole multi-
tude looked at him waiting, to hear what he would
answer the colt. And after the apostle remained
silent for a time, like one being beside himself, and
looking toward heaven, he said to the colt, " Who
art thou, and whose art thou? For surprising and
strange is that which was spoken by thee, which is
also hidden to many." And the colt answered and
said, " I am of that family which served Balaam,-
and to which also belonged that colt on which sat
thy Lord and thy Master.^ And now I have been
sent to give thee rest by thy sitting on me, that these
may believe and I obtain that portion which I am
about to receive by the service now offered to thee,
and which shall be taken from me, if I do not serve
thee." And the apostle answered, " He who gave
thee this gift (of speech) can do, that it be given
to thee and to those belonging to thy race unto the
end. For as concerns this mystery I am powerless
1 Comp. John X, 11.
2 Comp. Numb. XXII, 21 sqq.
3 Comp. Luke XIX, 30.
262 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
and weak." And he would not mount. But the
coh entreated him that by riding on it he might
bless it. And the apostle mounted and sat down,
and all went with him, some going before, others
following him, and they all ran, anxious to see how
he would dismiss the colt.
41. And when he came near the gates of the
city, he alighted and said, " Go and be kept where
thou hast been." And immediately the colt fell to
the ground and to the feet of the apostle and died.
All of those that were present were sorrowing, and
said to the apostle, " Make it alive." And he an-
swered and said to them, " I could do it indeed
through the name of Jesus. But this would not
help it. For he who gave it the speech that it spoke,
could also do it, that it did not die. I shall not
raise it, not as if I could not do it, but because this
is the best for it." And he ordered those present to
dig a hole and bury the carcass. And they did as he
bade them.
Fifth Deed.
about the demon that dw^elt in the woman.
(Aa. pp. 159-167.)
42. And the apostle went into the city, followed
by all the multitude. And he thought of going to
the parents of the young man whom he had revived,
after having been killed by the dragon. For they
entreated him very much to come and to abide in
their house.* Suddenly an exceedingly beautiful
ACTS OF THOMAS 263
woman cried out, " Apostle of the new God, who
hast come to India, and servant of that holy and
good God — for by thee he is proclaimed the Sa-
viour of the souls of those which come to him, and
by thee the bodies of those are healed which are
punished by the enemy, and thou hast become the
cause of life of all, which turn to him — command
that I be brought to thee, that I may tell thee what
happened to me, and that perhaps there may be
hope to me and to those who stand by thee, to be
more confirmed in the hope in that God whom thou
preachest. For not a little have I already been
tormented by the enemy for five years. As a wo-
man I formerly had rest, surrounded everywhere
by peace, [and I cared for nothing]. For I had
none to care for.
43. " And one day when I left the bath, it hap-
pened that I met a man who looked troubled and dis-
turbed. And his voice and answer seemed to be
very weak and thin. And coming up to me he said,
* Let us unite in love and have intercourse with
each other as a man with his wife.' And I an-
swered and said, ' I had no intercourse with my be-
trothed, as I refused to be marrried — how should
I give myself up to thee, that wishest to have inter-
course with me as in adultery ? ' And having said
this, I passed by. And to my maid I said, ' Didst
thou see the young man and his impudence, how
shamelessly and boldly he talked to me ? ' And she
said, ' I saw an old man talking with thee.' When I
had come to my liouse and had supped, my mind
264 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
suggested to me some suspicion, especially as he ap-
peared to me in two forms. And with this in my
thoughts, I fell asleep. In that night he came in to
me and made me share in his filthy intercourse. I
saw him also when it was day, and fled from him.
According to his wont, he came at night and abused
me. And now as thou seest me, I have been tor-
mented by him five years, and he has not departed
from me. But I know and am persuaded that even
demons and spirits and monsters are subject to thee,
and tremble at thy prayer. Pray, then, for me, and
drive away from me the demon, that torments me
continually, that I also may become free, and may
be brought to my own kind, and receive the gift
which has been granted to my kindred."
44. And the apostle said, " O irrepressible
wickedness ! O shamelessness of the enemy ! O
jealous one that is never at rest! O ugly one who
subjects the beautiful ones! O many- formed one
— he appears as he wishes, but his nature cannot be
changed — ! O crafty and perfidious ! O bitter
tree, whose fruits are like it! O traducer, fighting
over that which is not his! O deceit which uses
impudence! O wickedness that creeps like a ser-
pent and is related to it ! " And when the apostle
had thus spoken, the fiend stood before him, no one
seeing him but the apostle and the woman, and said
in the hearing of all with a very loud voice :
45. " What have we to do with thee, apostle of
the Alost High? What have we to do with thee,
servant of |esus Christ? What have we to do with
ACTS OF THOMAS 265
thee, counselor of the Holy Son of God? Why wilt
thou destroy us before our time? ^ Why wilt thou
take our power ? For until the present hour we had
hope and time left us. What have we to do with
thee? Thou art powerful in thine own, and we in
our own. Why wilt thou use tyranny against us,
since thou teachest others not to use violence ? ^
Why dost thou covet that which is not thine own
like one who is not satisfied with what he has?
Why dost thou liken thyself to the Son of God, who
wronged us? For thou art like him altogether, as
if thou hadst him for a father. For we thought to
bring him also under the yoke, like the rest. But
he turned, and left us under his power, because we
knew him not. He deceived us by his very homely
form and his poverty and want. For when we
thus saw him, we thought him to be a man clothed
with flesh, not knowing that it was he who makes
men live. And he gave us power over our own,
and for the time being not to give up our own, but
to abide in it. But thou wishest to get more than is
necessary and has been given thee and to do vio-
lence to us ! "
46. And having thus spoken, the demon wept
and said, " I leave thee, my most beautiful consort,
which I found long ago and was at rest. I leave
thee, my beloved, trusty sister, in which I was well
pleased.^ What I shall do or whom I shall call
1 Comp. Mark I, 24; V, 7; Matt. VIII, 29.
2 Comp. Luke III, 14.
3 Comp. Matt. Ill, 17.
266 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
upon to hear me and protect me, I know not. I
know what I shall do : ^ I shall go to the places
where the fame of this man has not been heard ; and
in thy stead, my beloved, I may perhaps find one
with another name." And lifting up his voice, he
said, " Remain in peace who has taken refuge with
him, that is greater than I. I will go away, and
seek one like thee; and if I find her not, I shall re-
turn again to thee. For I know that when thou art
near this man, thou hast a place of refuge in him ;
but when he has gone away, thou shalt be as thou
wast before he appeared ; and thou wilt forget him.
but for me there will be again opportunity and
boldness. But now I fear the name of him who
has protected thee." And having thus spoken, the
demon disappeared. And after he had gone fire
and smoke were seen, and all present were struck
with amazement.
47. And the apostle, seeing this, said to them,
" Nothing strange or unusual has the demon shown,
but tlie element by which he shall be burned. For
the fire shall consume him, and its smoke shall be
scattered abroad." And he began to say, " Jesus,
hidden mystery which has been revealed unto us ;
thou art he who didst make known to us many se-
crets, who hast separated me from all my compan-
ions and told me three words with which I am set
on fire, but which I cannot communicate to others ;
Jesus, man, slain, dead, buried ; Jesus, God of God
4 Comp. Luke XVL 4-
ACTS OF THOMAS 267
and Saviour, who quickeneth the dead, and heals
the sick ; ^ Jesus, who appearest to be in want,*^ and
savest as if in want of nothing, catching the fishes
for the morning and evening meal,'^ and satisfying
all with a little bread ; ^ Jesus, who rests from the
toil of the journey like a man, and walkest upon the
waves as God ; ^ Jesus Most High, voice arising
from perfect compassion, Saviour of all, right hand
of the light, prostrating the wicked through his own
kind, and bringing all his kind into one place ; poly-
morphous, who art the only begotten, the firstborn
among many brethren ; ^^ God of God Most High
and man, despised until now ; Jesus Christ, wdio
overlookest us not when we call upon thee; who
hast become the cause of life to the whole human
race; who wast judged for our sakes and kept in
prison, whereas thou freest all that are in bonds;
who wast called a deceiver/^ whereas thou deliver-
est thine own from deception — I pray thee for
these present and who believe on thee. They wish
to obtain thy gifts, having a joyous hope in thy help
and taking refuge in thy majesty. Their ears are
opened to hear the words wdiich are spoken to them.
May thy peace come and dwell in them, and renew
them by cleansing them from their former deeds,
and let them put off the old man with his deeds,
sComp. Luke IX, 52; VII, 14; John XI, 43; Rom. IV, 17.
6 Comp. Matt. VIII, 20.
■^ Comp. Luke V, i-ii ; John XXI, 6, 1 1, 12.
8 Comp. Matt. XIV, 19 ; John IV, 6.
9 Comp. Matt. XIV, 25.
10 Comp. Rom. VIII, 29.
11 Comp. Matt. XXVII, 63.
268 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
and put on the new man now declared to them by
me! "12
49, And he laid his hands on them and blessed
them, saying," The grace of our Lord Jesus be
upon you for ever ! " And they said, " Amen." ^^
And the woman begged of him and said, " Apos-
tle of the Most High, give me the seal, that that
foe may not come back upon me again." And he
made her come near to him, laid his hands on her,
and sealed her in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost. And many others were
also sealed with her. And the apostle ordered his
minister (deacon) to set out a table. And they set
out a couch which they found there. And having
spread a linen cloth upon it, he put on it the bread
of the blessing (the blessed bread). And the apos-
tle, standing by it, said, " Jesus, who hast deemed
us worthy to partake of the eucharist of thy holy
body and blood, see, we are emboldened to come to
thy eucharist and to invoke thy holy name; come
and commune with us."
50. And he commenced to say:
<" Come, gift of the Most High;>
Come, perfect compassion;
Come, communion with the male ; **
<Come, Holy Spirit ;>
Come, thou that knowest the mysteries of the chosen
one;
i2Comp. Eph. IV, 22, 24; Col. HI, 9, 10.
13 Comp. Rom. XVI, 20. 1* Not in the Syriac.
ACTS OF THOMAS 269
Come, thou that communicatest in all the combats of
the noble combatant ;
<Come, treasury of glory ;>
<Come, most Beloved of the mercy of the Most
High;>
Come, rest.
That makest manifest the great deeds of the whole
greatness ;
Come, thou that disclosest secrets
And makest manifest the mysteries;
Come, holy dove,^^
Which hast brought forth twin young ; ^*
Come, thou secret mother ;
Come, thou who art manifest in thy deeds;
Come thou giver of joy
And of rest to those who are united to thee;
Come and commune with us in this eucharist,
Which we make in thy name,^^
And in the love feast
For which we are united at thy calling." ^^
And having thus spoken, he made the sign of the
cross upon the bread, broke it and began to dis-
tribute it. And first he gave it to the woman, and
said, *' This shall be to thee for remission of sins
and everlasting transgressions." ^'^ And after her,
he gave also to all the others who had received the
seal.
1* Not in the Syriac.
15 " In thy name " is wanting in the Syriac.
16 Comp. Lipsius, loc. cit., p. 317 f.
1^ In the Syriac : everlasting resurrection.
270 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Sixth Deed,
concerning the young man who killed the
MAIDEN.
(Aa. pp. 167-178.)
51. And there was a certain young man, who
had done a nefarious deed. And he also came and
partook of the eucharist. And his two hands with-
ered, so that he could no longer bring them to his
mouth. When those present saw him, they told the
apostle what had happened. And the apostle
called him and said, " Tell me, my son, and be not
afraid, what thou hast done, ere thou camest
hither. For the eucharist of the Lord has convicted
thee (of a bad deed). For this gift, by permeating
them, brings healing to many, especially to those
who come in faith and love ; but thee it has withered
away, and what has happened has happened not
without some cause (on thy part.) " And the
young man convicted by the eucharist of the Lord
came up, fell to the apostle's feet, and prayed him,
and said, " An evil deed has been done by me, whilst
I thought to do something nice. I loved a wo-
man who lived in an inn outside of the city, and she
loved me also. And I having heard from thee,
and believing that thou proclaimest the living God
came and received the seal from thee along with
the others. And thou didst say. " Whoever shall
indulge in impure intercourse (with a woman), es-
pecially in adultery, shall not have life with the God
ACTS OF THOMAS 271
whom I preach. As I loved her very much, 1 en-
treated her and tried to persuade her to Hve with
me in chaste and pure intercourse, as thou thyself
teachest. And she would not. Since she would
not, I took a sword and killed her. For I could not
see her living in adultery with another,"
52. When the apostle heard this, he said, " O
maddening" intercourse, how leadest thou to impu-
dences! O unrestrained lust, how hast thou ex-
cited this one to do this ! O work of the serpent,
how art thou uplifted in thine own!" And the
apostle ordered some water to be brought in a dish.
And when the water had been brought, he said,
" Come, waters from the living waters ; everlasting,
sent to us from the everlasting ; rest, sent to us from
the rest; power of salvation, proceeding from that
power which overcomes all and subjects it to its
will — come and dwell in these waters, that the gift
of the Holy Spirit may be fully communicated to
them ! " And to the young man he said, " Go, wash
thy hands in these waters." And having washed
them they were restored. And the apostle said to
him, " Believest thou on our Lord Jesus Christ, that
he can do all things ? " And he said, " Though I
am very weak, yet I believe. But I did this in the
hope of doing something good. For I entreated
her, as I told thee already, but she would not be
persuaded by me to keep herself chaste."
53. And the apostle said to him, " Come, let us
go to the inn, where thou didst the work, and let us
see what happened. And the young man went be-
272 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
fore the apostle on the road. When they had come
to the inn, they found her lying. And when the
apostle saw her, he was sad, for she was a beautiful
maiden. And he ordered her to be brought into the
middle of the inn. And having put her on a couch,
they brought it, and set it in the midst of the court-
yard of the inn. And the apostle laid his hand on
her, and began to say, " Jesus, who always appear-
est to us — for this thou wishest that we should
always seek thee and hast given us the permission to
ask for us and to receive, and hast not only permit-
ted us this, but hast also taught us how to pray ^ —
who art not seen by us with the bodily eyes, but who
art not altogether hidden from those of our soul,
and who art hidden in thy form, but manifested to
us by thy works ; and by thy many deeds we have
recognized thee as much as we comprehend, and
thou hast given us thy gifts without measure, say-
ing, ' Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye
shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.' ^
We pray, therefore, being afraid of our sins. And
we ask of thee not riches, nor gold, nor silver, nor
possessions, nor any of those things that come from
earth and go into the earth again; but we beg of
thee, and entreat that in thy holy name thou raise
this woman lying here by thy power, to thy glory
and to an awakening of faith in those which stand
by."
54. And he said to the young man, having
1 Matt. Vn, 7.
2 Comp. Acts of John, ch. 22.
ACTS OF THOMAS 273
marked him (with the sign of the cross), " Go and
take her hand, and say to her, Through iron I killed
thee with my hands, and with my hands I raise thee
because of faith in Jesus." And the young man
went and stood by her, saying, " I have believed in
thee, O Christ Jesus." And looking upon Judas
Thomas the apostle, he said to him, " Pray for me,
that my Lord, upon whom I call, may come to my
help." And having laid his hand on her hand, he
said, "Come, Lord Jesus Christ, give her life and
me the earnest of the faith in thee," And drawing
her by the hand, she spraung up, and sat, looking
at the great multitude standing around. And she
also saw the apostle standing opposite to her, and
having left her couch, she sprang up and fell at his
feet, and took hold of his garments, saying, " I pray
thee, lord, where is thy companion who has not left
me to remain in that fearful and grievous place, but
has given me up to thee, saying. Take this one, that
she may be made perfect, and thereafter be brought
into her own place ? "
55. And the apostle said to her, " Tell us where
thou hast been." And she answered, " Dost thou,
who wast with me, to whom also I was intrusted,
wish to hear ? " And she commenced thus : " An
ugly-looking man, all black, received me; and his
dress was exceedingly filthy.^ And he took me to a
place where there were many chasms, and a great
stench and most hateful odor were given forth
3 Por the following compare also the Apocalypse of Peter
in Pick, Paralipomena, p. 120 f.
2/4 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
thence. And he made me look into each chasm,
and I saw in the chasm blazing fire, and fiery wheels
run there, and souls were hung upon these wheels,
dashing against each other. And there was crying
and great lamentation, and no Saviour w^as there.
And that man said to me, These souls are akin to
thee, and in the days of numbering they were given
over to punishment and destruction. And then
(when the torture of each is completed) others are
brought in their places ; in like manner all these are
again succeeded by others. They are they who
have exchanged the intercourse of man and wife.
And again I looked down, and saw infants (newly
born) heaped upon each other, and struggling and
lying upon each other. And he said to me, These
are their children and for this they are placed here
for a testimony against them.
56. " And he brought me to another chasm,
and as I looked into it, I saw mud and worms
spouting forth, and souls wallowing there; and (I
heard) a great gnashing of teeth thence from
them. And that man said to me. These are the
souls of women, which left their husbands (and of
husbands which left their wives), and committed
adultery with others, and which have been brought
to this torment. And he showed me another chasm,
and looking into it, I saw souls hung up, some by
the tongue, some by the hair, some by the hands,
others by the feet, head downward, and smoked
with smoke and sulphur. Concerning these the
man which accompanied me said the following:
ACTS OF THOMAS 275
the souls hung up by the tongue, are slanderers, and
such as have spoken false and disgraceful words
and are not ashamed of it. Those hung up by their
hair are the shameless, who are not ashamed at all
and go about with uncovered heads in the world.
Those hung up by the hands are they which took
that which did not belong to them and have stolen,
and who never gave anything to the poor volun-
tarily, nor did they help the afflicted; but they so
acted, because they wished to get everything, and
cared neither for law nor right. And these hung
up by the feet are those who lightly and eagerly
walked in wicked ways and disorderly paths, not
visiting the sick, neither burying those who departed
this life. On this account each soul receives what
it has done.
57. " And again he led me forth and showed
me a very dark cavern, exhaling a very bad odor.
Many souls were peeping out thence, wishing to get
some share of the air. And their keepers would not
let them peep out. And my companion said to me,
This is the prison of these souls, which thou hast
seen. For when they have fully received their
punishment for that which each has done, others
succeed them. Some are fully eaten up, others are
given up to other punishments. And the keepers of
the souls in the dark cavern said to the man that had
charge of me. Give her to us, that we bring her to the
others till the time comes when she is given up to
punishment. But he said to them, I will not give
her to you, because I am afraid of him who gave her
276 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
up to me. For I was not told to leave her here; I
shall take her up with me, till I get an injunction
about her. And he took me and brought me to an-
other place, where there were men who were bit-
terly tortured. He that is like thee took me and
gave me up to thee, saying to thee, Take her, for
she is one of the sheep which have wandered away.
And thou didst take me, and thus I now stand be-
fore thee. I beg, therefore, and supplicate thee
that I may not come to those places of punishment
which I have seen."
58. And the apostle said, " You have heard
what this woman has recounted. And these are not
the only punishments, but there are others worse
than these. And you too, unless you turn to the
God whom I preach, and abstain from your former
works and the deeds which you did ignorantly,
shall find your end in these punishments. Believe,
therefore, in Christ Jesus, and he will forgive you
the former sins and w^ill cleanse you from all your
bodily desires that abide in the earth, and will heal
you from the faults that follow after you, and go
along with you, and are found before you. Let
every one of you put off the old man and put on the
new,^ and leave your former course of conduct and
behavior. Those that steal, let them steal no
more, but let them live, laboring and working.^
The adulterers are no more to commit adultery, lest
they give themselves up to everlasting punishment.
*Comp. Eph. II, 22: Col. Ill, 9.
5 Comp. Eph. IV, 28.
ACTS OF THOMAS 277
For adultery is with God an evil altogether grievous
above all other evils. Put away also from your-
selves covetousness, and lying, and drunkenness,
and slandering,^ and rendering evil for evil ! '^
For all these are alien and strange to the God whom
I preach. But walk ye rather in faith, and meek-
ness, and holiness, and hope, in which God rejoices,
that you may become of his household, expecting
from him those gifts, which a few only receive."
59. The whole people therefore believed, and
presented obedient souls to the living God and Jesus
the Messiah, enjoying the blessed works of the Most
High and his holy service. And they brought
money for the service of the widows. For he had
them collected in the cities, and he sent to all of
them by his servants (deacons) the things neces-
sary, both clothing as well as food. He himself
ceased not to preach and to speak to them and to
show that this Jesus is the Messiah, of whom the
Scriptures have spoken,^ that he should be crucified
after his appearance and should be raised after three
days from the dead. He also showed to them, ex-
plaining and beginning from the prophets, what was
said concerning the Messiah,^ that it was necessary
for him to come, and that everything had to be ac-
complished, what was spoken of him beforehand.
And the fame of him spread over all the cities and
villages, and all who had sick persons or such as
8 Comp. Eph. IV, 25.
■^ Comp. I Pet. Ill, 9.
8 Comp. Acts XVIII, 28.
» Comp. Luke XXIV, 27.
278 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
were troubled by unclean spirits, ^^ brought them to
him; and some they laid on the road ^^ by which he
was to pass, and he healed all by the power of the
Lord. And those that were healed by him said with
one accord and one voice, " Glory to thee, Jesus, who
in like manner hast given healing to all through thy
servant and apostle Thomas! And being in good
health, and rejoicing, we pray thee, that we may
become members of thy flock and be counted among
thy sheep. Receive us, therefore, O Lord, and con-
sider not our trespasses and our former transgres-
sions, wdiich we have done, because we were in ig-
norance! " ^^
60. And the apostle said, " Glory be to the
only-begotten of the Father; ^^ glory to the first-
born of many brethren; ^^ glory to thee, the helper
and succor of those who take their refuge to thee.
Thou that sleepest not, and raising those that are
asleep; that livest and bringest to life those that are
lying in death: O God Jesus Christ, Son of the
living God, redeemer and helper, refuge and rest of
all those that labor in thy work, who affordest health
to those who for thy name's sake bear the burden
and heat of the day; ^^ we give thanks for the gifts
given to us by thee, and for the help from thee be-
stowed upon us, and thy providential care that has
come upon us from thee.
10 Comp. Luke VL 18.
11 Comp. Acts V, 15.
12 Comp. Acts UI, 17.
13 Comp. John L I4-
1* Comp. Rom. VIH, 29.
15 Comp. Alatt. XX, 12.
ACTS OF THOMAS 279
61. "Perfect these things upon us, therefore,
unto the end, that we may have confidence in thee.
Look upon us (and see), because for thy sake we
have left our houses and our patrimony, and for thy
sake we have gladly and willingly become strang-
ers.^^ Look upon us, O Lord (and see) that for
thy sake we have given up our own possession, that
we might obtain thee for a possession that shall not
be taken away. Look upon us, O Lord, because we
have left those related to us by ties of kindred, in
order that we may be united in relationship to thee.
Look upon us, O Lord, who have left our fathers
and mothers and providers, that we behold thy
father, and be satisfied with his divine nourishment.
Look upon us, O Lord because for thy sake we left
our bodily wives and our earthly fruit, in order that
we may share in that true and lasting communion
and bring forth true fruits, whose nature is from
above, which no one can take from us, in which we
abide and they abide with us."
Seventh Deed.
concerning the commander,
(Aa. pp. 178-185.)
62. When the apostle Judas Thomas was
preaching in India the word of God, a commander
of King Misdai (Masdai) came to him, and said to
him, " I have heard of thee that thou dost receive no
16 Comp. Matt. XIX, 27, 29.
28o THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
reward, but givest to the poor what thou hast. For
if thou wouldst receive a reward, I should have sent
thee a sufficient sum of money and I had not come
myself, since the king does nothing without me.
For my possession is great and I am rich, one of the
wealthy in India. But I never did anything wrong
to anyone. But the reverse I have experienced. I
have a wife and I had a daughter by her, and I love
her (the wife )very much, as nature demands it,
and I had no intercourse with another woman.
And it happened that there was a wedding in our
city, and those which made the wedding were good
friends of mine. So they came and asked me (my
consent) by inviting my wife and daughter. Being
well befriended, I could not refuse it. So I sent
her, though she did not care, and I sent also many
slaves with them. So they went away, decked
with much jewelry, she and her daughter.
63. And when it was evening, and the time had
come to come home from the wedding, I sent lamps
and torches for to meet them, and I stood by, look-
ing out when they came, and I could see her and
my daughter. And as I stood, I heard a lamenta-
tion. Woe to her! was heard from every mouth.
And the slaves returned with torn garments and told
me what had happened. We saw, said they, a man
and a boy with him ; the man had his hand upon thy
wife, the boy upon thy daughter. But they ran
away from them. And we wounded them with
swords, but the swords fell to the ground and they
(the women) also, gnashing with their teeth and
ACTS OF THOMAS 281
knocking their heads against the ground. And
when we saw this, we came to tell thee. Upon
hearing this, I tore my garment, and struck my
face with the hands, and ran all the way like mad.
And having gone away, I found them prostrated in
the market. And I took them and brought them
into my house, and having regained their senses
after a while, they rose and sat down.
64. " I now began to ask my wife. What is it
that had happened to thee? And she said, Dost
thou not perceive what happened to me? For I
asked of thee not to let me go to the wedding, since
I did not feel very well. And as I walked by the
way and came to the aqueduct, I saw a black man
before me and his head shaking a little to me and a
boy like him, standing by his side. And I said to
my daughter, Look at these two ugly -looking men,
whose teeth are like milk and whose lips are like
soot. And we left them at the aqueduct and went
on. After sunset, having broken ofif from the wed-
ding, and gone with the slaves through (the city),
and when near the acqueduct, my daughter noticed
them first and she came to me. And after her I saw
them also, coming towards us, and we ran away
from them. And the slaves also, which were with
us ran away. (And they) beat us, and threw us
down. And as she told me this, the demons came
near again and threw her down. And since that
hour they can go out no more, being locked
up in one or in another house. And on their
account I suffer much and am troubled. For
282 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
wherever they are they throw them down
and uncover them. I ask thee, therefore, to
pray to God : help me and have mercy upon me !
For since three years no table (for the meal) has
been set up in my house, and my wife and my
daughter sat at no meal. Especially (I ask thee)
for my unhappy daughter, which has not seen any-
thing good yet in this world.
65. When the apostle heard this from the com-
mander, he felt very sorry for him. And he said
to him, ''Believest thou that Jesus heals her?"
And the commander said, " Yes." And the apostle
said, " Commend thyself to Jesus, and he will heal
and help her," Said the commander, " Show him
to me, that I may ask him and believe on him."
And the apostle said, " He appears not to these
bodily eyes, but is only found with the eyes of the
mind." And the commander lifted up his voice
and said " I believe on thee, Jesus, and I beseech and
ask of thee, help my little faith, which I have to-
ward thee." The apostle commanded the deacon
Xenophon ^ to assemble all in one place. And when
the multitude was assembled, the apostle spoke,
standing in the midst :
66. " My children and brethren, which believe
on the Lord, remain in this faith, by preaching Je-
sus, who has been preached to you by me, and by
putting your hope in him. Forsake him not, and
he shall not forsake you. When you sleep in this
1 Syriac : Xanlliippus.
ACTS OF THOMAS 283
sleep weighing down the sleepers, he sleeps not and
watches. And when you travel by sea and are in
danger and there is none to help, he walks upon the
waters and helps. I am now about to go from you,
and it is uncertain whether I shall see you again in
my body. Be not like the people of Israel, which
fell when left alone for a short time by its shep-
herd.^ I leave with you in my place deacon Xeno-
phon, for he also preaches Jesus like myself. For
neither am I something, nor he, but Jesus. For I
also am a man, clothed with a body, a son of man,
like one of you. I have also no riches, as some,
which convince also the possessors of their entire
uselessness, since they are left behind on earth,
whence it came. But the trespasses which men
take upon themselves on their account, and the
filth of sin, they take with them. The rich are sel-
dom found in the practice of mercy. But the mer-
ciful and the meek of heart — they shall inherit
the Kingdom of God. Even beauty remains not
with man. For they which rely upon it, when old
age comes, shall suddenly be confounded. Every-
thing has its time. There is a time to love, a time
to hate.^ Let the hope, therefore, be on Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, who is always loved and
desired, and remember us, as we remember you.
For we also (Thomas and Xenophon), unless we
carry the burden of the commandments, we are not
2 Comp. Exod. XXXII.
3 Eccles. Ill, I, 8.
284 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
worthy to be preachers of that name, and shall be
punished there afterward."
67. And having prayed with them and remained
a long time in prayer and supplication, he com-
mended them to the Lord and said : " Lord, the
Lord of each soul, which dwelleth in a body ; Lord,
Father of the souls which hope in thee and wait for
thy mercy, who redeemeth thy men from error, and
freest from servitude and corruption those who are
subject to thee and take refuge with thee, come to
the fold of Xenophon, anoint them with holy oil,
heal their wounds and keep them from the grievous
wolves." And he laid his hands upon them and
said, " The peace of the Lord come upon you and
go also with us!"
Eighth Deed.
about the wild asses.
{Aa. pp. 185-197)
68. And the apostle went forth to go on his
way. And all accompanied him with tears and ad-
jured him to remember them in his prayers and not
to forget them. And when he had mounted the
wagon and all brethren were left behind, the com-
mander came, ordered the driver to rise, and said,
" I pray and supplicate to be deemed worthy to sit
under his feet and to become his driver on this
way, that he may become my companion on that
way, in which only a few walk."
ACTS OF THOMAS 285
69. And having gone about two miles, the apos-
tle bade the commander to rise and sit beside him,
allowing the driver to take his own seat. And as
they went on it happened that on account of the
great heat the beasts of burden became tired and
could move no more. And the commander became
very sad and discouraged, and thought of running
by foot to fetch other beasts of burden for the
wagon. But the apostle said, " Let not your heart
be troubled, neither let it be afraid ;^ but believe on
Jesus Christ, whom I have preached to thee, and
thou shalt see great wonders." And looking about
he saw a herd of wild asses, grazing by the way.
And he said to the commander, "If thou believest
on Jesus Christ, go to the herd of wild asses and
say, Judas Thomas, the apostle of the Messiah of
the new God, saith. Let four of you come, because
we need you !"
70. And the commander went, seized by fear,
because they were so many. And as he went, they
came to meet him. And having come near, he said
to them, " Judas Thomas, the apostle of the new
God, commands you that four of you should come,
because I need them!" And the wild asses upon
hearing this, came to him running with one accord ;
and having come, they fell upon their knees.^ And
the apostle said to them, " Peace be with you !
Yoke four in place of these beasts of burden put
aside !" And every one of them came and crowded
1 Comp. John XIV, 27.
2 The Syriac inserts here a hymn of the apostle.
286 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
to be yoked. But there were four stronger than
the rest, and these were yoked. Of the others,
some went before, some followed. And having
gone a short distance, he dismissed them, saying,
" To you, the inhabitants of the desert, I say, Go
to your pastures! For if I needed all, you would
all go with me. But now, go to your place, where
you were." And they quietly went away, till they
disappeared.
71. While the apostle, the commander, and the
driver went on, the wild asses walked quietly and
evenly, in order not to disquiet the apostle of God.
And when they had come near the gate of the city,
they turned aside and stopped before the house of
the commander. And the commander said, " It is
not possible to tell what happened, but I will await
the end and then I will speak." And the whole city
came, having seen the wild asses yoked. And the
fame also spread that the apostle intended to re-
main here. The apostle asked the commander,
" Where is thy dwelling, and whither art thou
bringing us ?" And he said to him, " Thou know-
est thyself that we are at the door, and these which
had come along at thy behest know it better than
myself."
72. Having said this, they alighted from the
wagon. And the apostle began to say, " Jesus
Christ, whose knowledge is despised in this coun-
try; Jesus Christ, of whom nothing has been heard
in this country; Jesus, who receivest all apostles in
every country and every city, and by whom all
ACTS OF THOMAS 287
worthy of tliee arc giorilied ; Jesus, who has taken
thee a form and becamest like a man and didst ap-
pear to all of us in order not to separate us from
thy love; Lord, thou art he who hast given himself
for us and has bought us with a price by his blood,
as a precious possession. But what have we. Lord,
to offer in exchange for thy life which thou hast
given for us? For what we have is thy gift.
<And thou demandest also nothing of us> than
this, that we ask thee and (thereby) have life,"
73. And having spoken thus, many came from
all sides to see the apostle of the new God. And
the apostle said again, " Why do we stand idle ?
Lord Jesus, the hour has come. What wishest
thou that should be done? Command, therefore,
that this be accomplished what must be done now."
And the wife and daughter of the commander were
very troubled by the demons, in such a wise that
the inmates of the house thought that they would
rise no more. For they would not allow them to
eat anything at all, but threw them on their beds,
and they recognized no one till the day on which the
apostle came. The apostle said to one of the wild
asses, which were yoked on the right side, " Go into
the court, and there standing call the demons and
say unto them, Judas Thomas, the apostle and dis-
ciple of Jesus Christ, says, Come out hither! For
for your sakes and against your relatives have I
been sent to destroy you and to persecute you to
your place, till the time of consummation comes
and you go down into your dark depth."
288 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
74. The wild ass, accompanied by many people,
went in and said, " I say to you, the enemies of
Jesus the Christ, I say to you which close the eyes
not to see the light — since the worst nature cannot
be changed for good — to you I say, the children
of hell and destruction, (the children) of him who
unceasingly does evil, who always renews his oper-
ations and that which becometh his nature, to you I
say, most impudent, who shall be destroyed by
yourselves — but what I should say concerning
your destruction and end and what I should advise,
I know not. For it is much and immense to hear it.
But your trespasses are greater than the punish-
ment which- is reserved for you. But to thee,
demon, and thy son, which follows thee — I say —
for now I have been sent for your sakes — but why
make many words about your nature and origin,
which you know yourselves and are nevertheless
impudent? Judas Thomas, the apostle of Jesus
the Messiah, who has been sent hither out of much
love and kindness, commands you. Go out in the
presence of all the people here and tell me of what
family you are!"
75. And immediately the woman and her daugh-
ter came forth, like dead and dishonored. And
when the apostle saw them, he was sad, especially
on account of the girl, and said to the demons, " Let
no forgiveness and forbearance fall to your lot, for
you also know no forbearance or compassion ! But
in the name of Jesus, leave them and go aside!"
When the apostle had said this, the women fell
ACTS OF THOMAS 289
down and died. For they had neither breath, nor
did they speak. And the demon began and said
with a loud voice, " Hast thou come hither again,
mocker of our nature and kindred? Hast thou
come again to deface our tracks. And as I think,
you win not suffer us at all to remain upon earth.
But this you cannot do at this time." The apostle,
however, supposed that this demon was the same
which was driven out from that woman.
76. And the demon said, " I beseech thee, suffer
me to go and to dwell where thou wishest, and com-
mand me for that purpose, then I shall not fear
liim who has power over me. For as thou hast
come to preach, so have I come to destroy. As he
who sent thee punishes thee for not fulfilling his
will, so, unless I do the will of him who has sent
me, I am sent before the time and appointed season
into my nature (exist no more as an individual).
And as the Messiah helps thee in thy work, so helps
me my father in that which I do. And as he pre-
pares for thee the vessels, worthy that he dwell in
them, so selects he (my father) vessels, by which I
accomplish his deeds. And as he nourishes and
provides his subjects, thus he (my father) prepares
for me and those in which I dwell punishments and
torments. And as he gives thee eternal life as
reward for thy work, so he (my father) offers me
as recompense for my works everlasting destruc-
tion. And as thou enjoyest thy prayer and good
works and thy spiritual hymns, thus I enjoy mur-
ders and adulteries and the wine-offerings offered
290 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Upon the altars. And as thou turnest men over to
everlasting life, I turn those which obey me to ever-
lasting damnation and punishment. Thou receivest
thy reward, I mine."
J'j. The demon having spoken this and the
more, the apostle said, " Jesus commands thee and
thy son through me, that you no more enter into a
human dwelling but go out and go and dwell alto-
gether outside of the dwelling of men!" And the
demons said to him, " Thou hast given us a hard
order. But what wilt thou do to those which are
now hidden from thee? For the makers of idols
(of wood and stone) enjoy them (the demons
dwelling in them) more than thou, and the multi-
tude worships them and does their will, bringing
offerings to them and offering wine and water liba-
tions as food and presenting gifts." And the apos-
tle said, " they shall now be destroyed with their
deeds." And suddenly the demons became invis-
ible. But the women did lie like dead upon the
ground, having no voice.
78. And the wild asses stood together and sep-
arated not. But the wild ass which by the power of
God was able to speak said to the apostle, whilst all
were silent and looked on what they would do,
" Why standest thou idle, apostle of the Most High,
who waits that thou beseech him for the greatest
knowledge? What dost thou delay? For thy
teacher wishes to show his great deeds by thy hands.
What standest thou, herald of the hidden One?
For thv Master will make known through thee the
ACTS OF THOMAS 291
secret, reserving it for those, whom he deems
worthy to hear it. What restest thou, who per-
forms great deeds in the name of the Lord? For
thy Lord encourages thee, by giving thee courage.
Be not afraid therefore. For he will forsake no
soul which according to kindred belongs to thee.
Begin, therefore, to call upon him, and he shall will-
ingly hear thee. What standest thou and admirest
all his deeds and effects! For these things are
small which he has shown by thee. And what wilt
thou say of his great gifts? For thou shalt not be
able to tell them fully. What dost thou wonder at
his bodily healings, which pass, especially as thou
knowest the true and lasting healing which he gives
to those who belong to him? And why dost thou
look at this temporal life, and thinkest not of the
eternal ?
79. " And to you, multitudes standing here and
waiting that the prostrated women shall be raised, I
say, Believe the apostle of Jesus Christ ; believe the
teacher of truth; believe him who shows you the
truth ; believe on Jesus ; believe on the Messiah
which was born; that the born have life through his
life ; who also became a child and was educated, that
the perfect humanity appear through him. He
taught his own teacher,^ because he is the teacher of
truth and the wisest of the wise ; he offered sacrifice
also in the temple, to show that every offering is
hallowed (by him).^ This here is his apostle, the
3 Comp. Thomas' Gospel of the Infancy, ch. 6.
4 Comp. Matt. XVII, 27.
292 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
revealer of truth. It is he who does the will of him
who sent him. But lying apostles and prophets of
lawlessness shall come,^ whose end shall be accord-
ing to their deeds, which indeed preach and give
laws that one should flee lawlessness, but they are
found at all times in sins. They are clothed indeed
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves ; they are not satisfied with one wife, but cor-
rupt many women; they say that they despise chil-
dren, yet ruin many children and suffer for them;
they are not satisfied with what they have, but wish
that everything useful should serve them alone,
whereas they pretend to be his (Christ's) disciples;
they say one thing with their mouth, but in their
hearts they think otherwise; they command others
to refrain from wickedness, but themselves they do
nothing good; they are regarded as temperate and
command others to abstain from fornication, theft,
and avarice, but in secret they do all these things
themselves, teaching others not to do these things."
80. While the wild ass was thus talking, all
looked at It. And when it was silent, the apostle
said, " What I am to think of thy beauty, O Jesus,
and what to say about it, I know not ; rather I can-
not. For I am not able, O Christ, to utter it com-
pletely, O thou that restest and only One who art
wise, who alone knowest what is in the heart and
the contents of thought; — glory be to thee, merci-
ful and tranquil ; glory be to thee, wise word ; glory
6 Comp. Matt. VH, 15 ; 2 Pet. U, 1.
ACTS OF THOMAS 293
to thy mercy, which is shed over us ; glory to thy
compassion which is spread over us; glory to thy
majesty, who didst come down for our sakes; glory
to thy highest kingdom, which humbled itself for
our sakes ; glory to thy strength which became weak
for our sakes; glory to thy deity which for our
sakes appeared in the image of man; glory to thy
humanity, which died for our sakes, to make us
alive; glory to thy resurrection from the dead, for
by it our souls shall share in the resurrection and
rest; glory and praise to thy ascension into heaven,
for by it thou didst show us the way to the highest
after thou didst promise that we shall sit on thy
right hand and judge with thee the twelve tribes of
Israel. Thou art the heavenly word of the Father ;
thou art the hidden light of the mind; thou art he
that shows the way of truth; O persecutor of dark-
ness and destroyer of error."
81. When the apostle had spoken thus, he went
to the women and said, " My Lord and my God, I
doubt not in thee, nor do I call upon thee in unbe-
lief, who art always our helper and assistance and
restorer who givest us thy strength, encouragest us,
and givest thy servants freedom in love. I beseecli
thee, let these women rise up healed, and become
again as they were ere the demons struck them.''
Having spoken thus, the women turned and sat
down. And the apostle ordered the commander
that his servants take them and bring them in. An^ 1
when they had come in, the apostle said to the wild
asses, " Follow me." And they followed him till
294 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
outside of the gates. And having come out, he told
them, " Go in peace to your pastures !" And the
wild asses went away willingly, the apostle standing
and seeing to it that no harm be done to them by
anyone, till they had become invisible in the dis-
tance. And the apostle returned with the people
into the house of the commander.
Ninth Deed.
about the wife of charis.
(A a. pp. ip/-2^p.)
82. It came to pass that a woman, (the wife)
of Charis, the near relative of the king, named
Mygdonia, came to see and to behold the new ap-
pearance of the new God, who was preached, and
the new apostle, who abode in their country. And
she was carried by her slaves, but could not be
brought to him on account of the many people and
the narrow space. So she sent to her husband for
more servants. They came and went before her,
pushing and striking the people. When the apostle
perceived this, he said to them, " Why do you make
these go away who come to hear the word and show
willingness for it? You wish to be near me,
whereas you are far — as it has been said of the
people, which came to the Lord, Having eyes, and
ye hear not.^ And to the multitudes he said, He
1 Mark Vni, 18.
ACTS OF THOMAS 295
that hath ears to hear, let him hear ; ^ And, come
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest." ^
83. And looking at her (Mygdonia's) carriers,
he said to them, this beatitude, which was given to
them, is now also given to you who are heavy laden.
Ye are those which carry burdens, grievous to be
borne,'^ and are driven onward by her (the wom-
an's) behest. And whereas you are men they lay
burdens upon you, as upon the unrational beasts, be-
cause your lords think that you are not men like
themselves. <And they know not that all men are
alike before God,> whether they be bond or free.
<And God's judgment is just which comes upon
all souls on earth, and none escapes it,> whether
bond or free, poor or rich. For neither shall the
riches help the rich, nor will poverty save the poor
from judgment. For we received not a command-
ment which we cannot fulfill, nor did he put upon
us heavy burdens grievous to be borne. He did
neither put upon us such a building, as men build
it, nor stones to be hewn and houses to be estab-
lished, as your artists make up by their intelligence,
but we received the commandment from the Lord,
that what is displeasing to us when done unto us
by another, we should not do to another.
84. " First of all abstain from adultery, for it
is the cause of every evil, <and of murder, on
2 Matt. XI, IS.
8 Matt. XI, 28.
* Comp. Matt. XXIII, 4.
296 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
which account the curse came upon Cain;> also of
theft, which induced Judas Iscariot and caused that
he hung himself; <and of gluttony, which
caused the loss of primogenitureship, and of avar-
ice, > for those that are given to avarice see not
what they do; and of ostentation <and defama-
tion > and all dirty deeds, especially of the carnal
<and the dirty intercourse and couch of uncleanli-
ness,> the end of which is eternal damnation. For
this (uncleanliness) is the starting point of every
evil. In like manner, it also leads those which are
proud into servitude, drawing them down into the
depth and subjecting them to their hands, that they
see not what they do, on which account their deeds
are unknown to them.
85. "Ye, however, <walk in holiness, for it is
chosen more than any other good before God,> and
become ye thereby well-pleasing to God, <and in
moderation, which indicates the intercourse with
God> and gives life eternal and despises death.
And (walk) in kindness (meekness), for it over-
comes the enemy and alone obtains the crown of
victory. And in goodness and in helping, the poor
and satisfying the want of the needy, by bringing
(from your possession) and communicating to the
needy. Especially walk in holiness, for before God
it is the starting point of every good thing. <For
he that is not sanctified can do nothing noble. >
The holiness is of God, destroying fornication,
overcoming the foe, well-pleasing to God. It is an
invincible athlete, it is highly esteemed of God and
ACTS OF THOMAS 297
is glorijEied by many. It is the messenger of peace,
by preaching peace. < Moderation, however > if
one acquires it, he is without cares, because he
pleases the Lord and waits for the time of redemp-
tion. For it does nothing which is wrong, and
gives Hfe and rest and joy to all which obtain it.
86. " And meekness has subdued death, bring-
ing it under its power. Meekness has overcome
the enemy. Meekness is a good yoke. Meek-
ness fears none and resists not. Meekness is peace
and joy and enjoying of rest. Remain, there-
fore, in holiness and take the freedom from
care (proceeding from moderation) and approve
meekness. For in these three main parts the
Messiah is described, whom I preach to you. Holi-
ness is the temple of the Messiah, and whoever lives
in it obtains him as inhabitant. <And moderation
is the rest (recreation) of God.> For he fasted
forty days and forty nights, without tasting any-
thing. And whoever keeps it shall live in it as
upon a mountain. Meekness, however, is his glory,
for he said to our fellow-apostle Peter, Turn back
thy sword and put it up again into its place. For if
I would do this could I not put more than twelve
legions of angels from my Father on my side?"''
87. When the apostle spoke thus and the whole
multitude heard it, they crowded and came near.
But the wife of Charis, the relative of the king,
started up from the palanquin, threw herself to the
oComp. Matt. XXVI, 52, 53; John XVIII, u.
298 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ground before the apostle, took hold of his feet, be-
seeching and saying, " Disciple of the living God,
thou hast come into a desert country. For we live
in a desert, because by our life we are like the ir-
rational animals ; but now we shall be saved through
thy hands. I beseech thee, therefore, care for me
and pray for me, that the mercy of God, whom thou
preachest, come upon me and I become his maid,
and have part in the prayer and in the hope and in
the faith on him, and receive also the seal and be-
come a holy temple and he dwell in me."
88. And the apostle said, " I pray and ask for
you all, brethren, which believe in the Lord, and for
you, sisters, which hope in the Messiah, that the word
of God may rest on you all and dwell in you ; for we
have no power over you." And he began to speak to
the woman Mygdonia : " Rise up from the ground
and consider. For this ornament which thou hast
on will not help thee any, nor the beauty of thy
body, nor thy garments. Neither the fame of the
authority which surrounds thee, nor the power of
this world, nor this filthy intercourse with thy hus-
band will be of use to thee, if thou art deprived of
the true intercourse. For the exhibition of jewelry
is destroyed, and the body ages and changes, and
the garments wax old, and the power and dominion
pass by, accompanied by the responsibility for each's
behavior in it (the rule). And the communion of
begetting children also passes by, since it is an object
of contempt. Jesus alone always remains and they
which hope in him." When he had spoken this, he
ACTS OF THOMAS 299
said to the woman, '' Go in peace, and the Lord will
make thee worthy of his mysteries." And she said,
" I am afraid to go away, fearing lest thou lea vest
me and goest to another people." And the apostle
said to her, " Though I go away, I shall not leave
thee alone, but Jesus will be with thee because of his
compassion." And she fell down, worshipped him,
and went to her house.
89. And Charis, the relative of King Misdai,
after having bathed, went up to recline at dinner.
And he incjuired after his wife, where she was.
For she had not come as usual from her chamber
to meet him. And her servants said to him, " She is
unwell." And he started up, went to the chamber
and found her on the couch and covered. And he
unveiled her, kissed her, and said to her, " Why
art thou so sad?" And she said, "I am unwell."
He said to her, " Why hast thou not observed the
decency becoming a free woman and stay at home,
but didst go and listen to the idle words and look
at works of sorcery? But rise, dine with me, for I
cannot eat without thee." But she said to him,
" Excuse me for today, for I am very much afraid."
90. Upon hearing this from Mygdonia, Charis
would not partake of the meal, but ordered his serv-
ants to bring her to eat with him. And having
brought her, he demanded that she should eat with
him. And she excused herself. As she would not,
he ate alone, saying to her, " On thy account I re-
fused to eat with King Misdai, and thou wouldst
not eat with me? " And she said, " Because I am
300 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
unwell." Having risen up, Charis intended to as-
sociate with her after his custom. But she said,
" Have I not told thee, that I refused for to-day? "
91. Upon hearing this he went away and went to
sleep on another couch. When he awoke from his
sleep he said, " My mistress Mygdonia, hear the
dream which I have seen. I saw myself at meal
near King Misdai and besides us stood a table con-
taining everything. And I saw an eagle coming
down from heaven taking away two partridges from
the place before me and the king, which he carried
into his nest. And he came near again fluttering
about us. And the king ordered a bow to be
brought to him. The eagle took again a dove and
a turtle from the place before us. The king threw
an arrow after him which pierced him from one side
to the other without hurting him. And he flew to
his nest. And raised from the sleep, I am fright-
ened and very sad because I had tasted the partridge
and he would not suffer me to bring it to my
mouth." And Mygdonia said to him, *' Thy dream
is beautiful, for thou eatest partridges daily, where-
as this eagle has till now not tasted a partridge."
92. When it was morning, Charis went and put
the left shoe on the right foot. And stopping he
said to Mygdonia, "What does this mean? For
behold, the dream and this act ! " Mygdonia said
to him, " This also is not bad, but seems to me very
beautiful: from a bad thing comes the better."
Having washed his hands, he went to salute King
Misdai.
ACTS OF THOMAS 301
93. In like manner also Mygdonia went early in
the morning to salute the apostle Judas Thomas.
She met him talking to the chief commander and the
multitude. And he exhorted them by speaking of
the woman which had received the Lord into her
soul, and asked whose wife she was. The chief
commander said, " She is the wife of Charis, the
relative of King Misdai. And her husband is very
severe and the king obeys him in everything which
he says. And he allows her not to remain in the
knowledge which she professes. He has also often
praised her in the presence of the king by saying
none were so good for love as she. [Everything of
which thou speakest to her is strange to her."]
And the apostle said, "If the Lord has truly and in-
deed risen in her soul (as sun) and she has received
the sown seed, she will neither care for the earthly
life nor fear death, nor will Charis be able to do any
harm to her. For he whom she has received into
her soul is greater, if indeed she has truly received
him."
94. When Mygdonia heard this, she said to the
apostle, " In truth, my lord, I have received the
seed of thy words and shall bring forth fruits which
are like the seed." Says the apostle, " Lord, these
souls which are thine own, praise and thank
thee ; the bodies which thou didst deem worthy to
be habitations of thy heavenly gift thank thee."
And he also said to those about him, " Blessed are
the saints, which have never been condemned by
their souls (conscience) ; for because they have ob-
302 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
tained these (not condemning consciences), they
doubt not in themselves. Blessed are the spirits of
the saints which have safely received the heavenly
crown for the fight commissioned to them.
Blessed are the bodies of the saints, because they
were deemed worthy to become temples of God,
that Christ may dwell in them. Blessed are ye, be-
cause ye have power to remit sins. Blessed are ye,
if ye lose not that which is committed to you, but
take it with you with joy and gladness. Blessed
are ye, saints, because it is given to you to ask and
to receive. Blessed are ye, meek ones, because God
has deemed you worthy to become heirs of the
heavenly kingdom. Blessed are ye, meek ones, for
ye have overcome the wicked one. Blessed are ye,
meek ones, because ye shall see the face of the Lord.
Blessed are ye who hunger for the Lord's sake, for
rest is preserved for you, and your souls rejoice from
now on. Blessed are ye quiet ones (because ye
were found worthy) to be delivered from sin."
When the apostle had said this in the hearing of the
whole multitude, Mygdonia was more strengthened
in the faith and in the glory and majesty of the Mes-
siah.
95. And Charis, the king's relative and friend
came to the breakfast and found not his wife at
home. And he asked all in his house, " Whither
has your mistress gone?" And one of them said,
" She went to the stranger." Upon hearing this
from the one servant, he was angry at the others,
because they did not announce to him at once what
ACTS OF THOMAS 303
had happened. And he sat down and waited for
her. And when it was evening and she entered
into the house, he said to her, " Where hast thou
been ? " She answered and said, " To the physi-
cian?" He said, "Is the stranger a physician?"
She said, *' Yes, a physician of souls. Most physi-
cians heal the bodies, which decay ; but he heals the
souls, which do not perish." When Charis heard
this, he was inwardly very wroth at Mygdonia on
account of the apostle. But he answered nothing,
for he was afraid, as she was superior to him in
riches and intelligence. He went to the meal, but
she went to her chamber. And he said to one of his
servants, " Call her to the meal." But she would
not.
96. When he heard that she would not leave
her chamber, he went in and said to her, " Why wilt
thou not eat with me ? And wilt thou not also have
intercourse with me according to custom? And in
this respect I am more suspicious. For I heard that
that sorcerer and deceiver teaches that none should
cohabit with his wife, and he reverses what nature
demands and the deity has ordered." WHien Charis
said this, Mygdonia held her peace. Again he says
to her, " My lady and wife Mygdonia, be not de-
ceived by deceitful and foolish words, nor by the
works of sorcery which this man, as I heard, does in
the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. In this world it has never been heard that
one has raised the dead. But as I hear, he is re-
ported to raise the dead. And as he neither eats
304 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
nor drinks, think not, that he neither eats nor drinks
for righteousness' sake. He rather does it be-
cause he has nothing. For what should he do who
has not even the daily bread ? And he has only one
garment because he is poor. And as concerns this
that he receives nothing from anyone he does it be-
cause he is aware that none has been made well by
him."
97. When Charis said this, Mygdonia was
dumb like a stone. She prayed, however, for day-
light, that she might go to the apostle of the Mes-
siah. He left her and sadly partook of his meal,
for he was anxious to have intercourse with her.
When he had left, she bent her knees and prayed
thus : " Lord God, merciful Father, and Re-
deemer Christ, give me strength that I overcome
the boldness of Charis, and grant unto me to keep
the holiness which is well-pleasing to thee, that by it
I may also find eternal life." Having thus prayed,
she betook herself to her bed, being clothed.
98. Having eaten, Charis came near her. And
she cried, " Henceforth thou hast no place beside
me, for my Lord Jesus who is with me and rests
in me is better than thou." And laughingly he
said, " Well dost thou mock with these words at
that sorcerer, and nicely dost- thou laugh at him who
says. You have no life with God unless you sanctify
yourselves ! " Having said this, he tried to go into
her. But she would not suffer it, but cried out with
a piercing voice, " I call upon thee, Lord Jesus, for-
sake me not! I have taken refuge in thee! As I
ACTS OF THOMAS 305
have perceived that it is thou who seekest those
which are in ignorance and savest those which are
kept in error, so I pray thee now of whose report I
heard and in whom I believed, Come to my assist-
ance and save me from Charis's insolence, that his
impurity have no power over me." And she put
her hands (to her face), and ran away uncovered.
And upon leaving she tore down the curtain of her
chamber, put it around her, went to the nurse, and
slept with her.
99. And Charis spent the whole night in sad-
ness, striking his face with the hands. And he
thought of going immediately to the king and to re-
port to him of the power which surrounds him.
But considering he said within himself, " If the
great sadness which now fills my heart obliges me to
go to the king, who will introduce me to him? For
I know that, had not evil report thrown me down
from my pride and vaunt and greatness and brought
me into this smallness and separated my sister
Mygdonia from me, I should not have come out at
this time (of the night) even if the king stood at the
door and give him an answer. But I shall wait till
it is day. I know that the king will grant what I
ask of him. And I will speak of the madness of
the stranger, whose tyranny throws the great and
illustrious into the abyss. For it pains me not that
I am deprived of her intercourse, but I sorrow for
her, because her noble soul has been humbled. She,
a woman of comeliness, in which none of the serv-
ants has ever detected an unseemliness, ran uncov-
306 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ered from her chamber, and I know not whither she
went. But it is possible that having been made
mad by that sorcerer, in her madness she went to
the market to seek him. For nothing seems to her
lovely but that man and his words."
100. Having spoken thus, he began to moan
and say, " Woe to me, wife, and woe to thee also!
For too soon have I been deprived of thee ! Woe
to me, most beloved, for thou art better than my
whole kindred. For I had neither a son nor a
daughter from thee that I could enjoy them. Thou
hast not even lived with me a year, and an envious
eye has torn thee from me. Had the power of
death taken thee away, I should have counted my-
self a king and leader ! But that I should suffer this
at the hand of a stranger! And, possibly, he is a
slave, who ran away to my harm and to that of my
most unhappy soul. But let nothing come in my
way till I have destroyed him and avenged this
night. And let King Misdai not (again) find
pleasure in me unless he gives me revenge in the
head of the stranger and in the commander Si for,
who became her cause of destruction. For through
him he came here and stays with him. And many
go in and out there whom he teaches a new doc-
trine by saying that none can live unless he frees
himself from all his possessions and like himself
becomes an abstainer. And he endeavors to get
many friends.
loi. As Charis was considering this, it became
day. And having passed the night waking, he put
ACTS OF THOMAS 307
on a cheap dress, and shoes on his feet, and, looking
sad and dejected, he went to sakite the king. Upon
seeing him, the king said, " Why art thou so sad,
and why didst thou come in such an attire? And
thy face is also changed." Charis answered and
said to the king, " I have to tell thee of something
new, and of a new devastation which the com-
mander Sifor has brought upon India: a Hebrew
magician whom he has in his house and who leaves
him not. Many go to him, whom he teaches a new
God and gives them new laws, of which no one has
ever heard, by saying. ' It is impossible that you en-
ter into the eternal life which I preach to you, unless
you give up your wives, and the wives also give up
their husbands. It happened that my unhappy wife
also went to him and heard his words. And she
believed them, left me during the night, and ran to
the stranger. But let Sifor and the sorcerer hid-
den in his house be brought to thee, and punish
them, that not all of our people perish."
102. When his friend Misdai heard this, he said
to him, " Be not sad and discouraged ! I will have
them brought here, and I will avenge thee, and thou
shalt have thy wife again. For if I avenge others
who cannot avenge themselves, I will avenge thee
above all." And the king went out and sat upon the
seat of judgment. Being seated, he ordered to call
Sifor, the commander. And having come into his
house, they found him at the right hand of the
apostle, and Mygdonia at his feet, listening with
the whole people. And the king's messengers came
308 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
near to Si for and said, " Thou are sitting here Hs-
tening to foohsh words, and King Misdai is enraged
thinking how to destroy thee because of this sorcerer
and deceiver, whom thou hast brought into thy
house!" Upon hearing this, Sifor was discour-
aged, not because of the king's threat against him,
but on account of the apostle, because the king was
opposed to him. And he said to the apostle, " I am
distressed for thee. For I told thee from the be-
ginning that that woman is the wife of Charis, the
relative and friend of the King, and that he does
not suffer her to do what is promised, and that the
king grants him everything which he asks." And
the apostle said to Sifor, " Fear nothing, but believe
in Jesus, who conies to our defense. For we have
been gathered to his place of refuge." Upon hear-
ing this, and having put on his cloak, Sifor went to
King Misdai.
103. And the apostle inquired of Mygdonia,
" What is the cause that thy husband is so enraged
and has prepared these devices against us ? " She
said, " Because I did not yield to his desire. In
the evening he wanted to force me and to subject
me to that passion in which he indulges. But he to
whom I commended my soul delivered me from his
hands. And naked I ran away and slept with my
nurse. But what happened to him that he made
these cunning devices, I know not." The apostle
saith, " This shall not hurt us. Believe in Jesus,
and he will destroy the wrath in Charis and his
ACTS OF THOMAS - 309
madness and his passion, and he will be thy com-
panion on the dangerous road and bring thee into
his kingdom; and he shall bring thee into eternal
life, by giving thee a sure hope, which passes not
away and changes not."
104. And Si for stood before the king, who
asked him, " Who and whence is and what teaches
that magician whom thou hast in thy house ? " And
Si for answered the king, " O King, thou art hardly
ignorant of the trouble and sadness which I and
my friends suffered because of my wife, which thou
knowest and which others remember, and because
of my daughter, which I regard more than all my
possessions, what time of trial I had to undergo.
For I became an object of derision and curse for
our whole country. But I heard of that man, went
to him, besought him and took him and brought
him hither. And on the way I perceived wonder-
ful and surprising things, and here many heard of
the wild ass and of the demon which he drove out ;
and he healed my wife and daughter, and now they
are well. He asks no reward, but demands faith
and holiness that they become coworkers in his
work. He teaches to honor and fear one God, the
Lord of all, and Jesus Christ, his Son, that they
may have life eternal. He only eats bread and
salt, and drinks water from even to even ; and he
prays much, and whatever he asks of God is given
to him. And he teaches that this God is holy and
mighty, and that the Messiah is life and makes alive.
310 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Therefore he exhorts also those which are with him
to come to him (God) in hoHness, purity, love and
faith."
105. When Si for had spoken thus, King Misdai
sent many soldiers into the house of Si for, the com-
mander, to bring Thomas, and all those which
should be found there. And when the messengers
came into the house, they found him teaching a
great multitude, and Mygdonia sitting at his feet.
And when the messengers saw the multitude they
were afraid, went to the king, and said, " We ven-
tured not to say anything to him on account of the
many people around him ; Mygdonia also was listen-
ing to his words, sitting at his feet." When the
King Misdai and Charis heard these things, Charis
started up, took many people with him, and said,
" I shall bring him, O King, and Mygdonia, whose
mind he has disturbed." And with great unrest he
came into the house of Si for. And he found him
teaching; but Mygdonia he found not, because she
had returned to her house, having perceived that
her husband knew of her presence there.
106. And Charis said to the apostle, " Rise,
wicked one and destroyer and enemy of my house,
for thy sorcery harms me not; and I shall put thy
sorcery upon thy head." Having said this, the
apostle looked at him and said, " Thy threats shall
turn against thee, for thou shalt not harm me. For
greater than thee and thy king and thy whole army
is the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I put my hope."
And Charis took a wrapper of one of his servants,
ACTS OF THOMAS 3II
put it on the neck of the apostle, and said, " Drag
and take him away; I shall see whether God can
save him from my hands." And they dragged and
took him to King Misdai. When the apostle came
into the presence of the king, the king said to him,
" Tell me who thou art and by what power thou
doest these things?" But the apostle held his
peace. And the king ordered his subjects to scourge
him one hundred and twenty-eight times and cast
him bound into the prison. And they bound him
and led him away. And the king and Charis con-
sidered how to kill him. But the multitude wor-
shipped him upon the knees like a God. And they
had in their mind to say this : " The stranger acted
wickedly against the king, and is a deceiver."
107. And when the apostle went to the prison,
he said with gladness and rejoicing, " I thank thee,
Jesus, that thou hast not only deemed me worthy
to believe on thee, but also to suffer much for thee.
I thank thee. Lord, that thou hast cared for me and
hast given me patience. I thank thee, Lord, that on
thy account I have been called a sorcerer and magi-
cian. May I also receive of the beatitudes of the
lowly, and of the rest of the weary, and of the
beatitudes of those whom men hate and persecute
and revile by speaking evil against them. For, be-
hold, on thy account I am hated; behold, on thy
account I am avoided by the multitude, and on thy
account they call me what I am not."
108. And all prisoners saw him pray and asked
him to pray for them. After having prayed, and
312 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
having been seated, he began to repeat the follow-
ing psalm : ^
" When I was a minor
And in the palace "^ of my Father,
Enjoying the riches and abundance
Of those who brought me up,
From the East, our home,
The parents having equipped me, sent me away.
From the richness of their ^ treasuries
They supplied a burden,
Great and yet light,
That I alone could carry it.
Gold is the burden from above,^
And silver from the great treasuries ^^
And Chalcedon stones from India,
And pearls from the land of Kosan.^^
And they supplied me with a diamond
< Which can break the iron. >
6 The hymn or psalm, which is here inserted and which is
only found in the Syriac and in one Greek manuscript, has
erroneously been called " the hymn of the soul." It rather
describes the descent of the Saviour to the earth (= Egypt),
his deliverance of those souls which were there in the prison
of the evil (=: matter) and his return to the heavenly kingdom
of light. The whole may be designated as a Gnostic develop-
ment and expansion of Phil. H, 5-1 1. The hymn can be di-
vided into the following sections : i, the preparations for the
journey; 2, the journey; 3, the abode in Egypt; 4, the return.
Some have ascribed the authorship of this hymn to the Syrian
Bardesanes ; see Lipsius, loc. cif., p. 292 f. ; Preuschen, loc.
cit., p. 45 f., where an exposition is attempted.
^ Syriac : in the kingdom.
8 Syriac : our.
^Syriac: from the country of Gilan.
^° Syriac : from Gazak.
^^ Syriac : Kushan.
ACTS OF THOMAS 313
And took off my garment wrought in gold and jew-
eled
Which they had made in their love,
And the cloak as yellow as gold,
Which answered my size.
And they agreed with me
And wrote it into my heart, that I should not forget
it;
* When thou goest down into Egypt
To fetch thence the one pearl
Which is there <in the midst of the sea,>'
Which the devouring serpent surrounds —
Thou shalt put on the jeweled garment
And the cloak, which thou hast enjoyed,
And with thy brother <our nearest kin,>
Thou shalt be heir in our kingdom.'
109. I came from the East <and went down>
On a difficult, dangerous road.
Accompanied by two guides,
For I was unexperienced, to travel on it.
I passed by the border of Mesene,
The stopping place of the merchants of the East,
Came into the land of the Babylonians
<And entered within the walls of Sarbug. >
And when I had come to Egypt,
The guides, my fellow-travelers, left me,
I betook myself by the shortest road to the serpent,
Settled about its cave.
And waited till it slept
That I might secretly take my pearl.
And when I was alone
314 " THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
And in my appearance appeared strange to my room-
mates,
I noticed there was a countryman from the East,
The free, a young man, lovely and beautiful
A Son of the nobles. ^^ He came, lived with me
and became my companion,
And I made him a friend and comrade of my under-
taking.
But I cautioned him against the Egyptians
And against the communion with these unclean
ones.
But I dressed like them
Not to appear to them as a stranger.
As one who came from abroad
To obtain the pearl
That the Egyptians excited not the serpent against
me.
But from some cause, whatever it be,
They learned that I was not from their country,
And with deceit and cunning they rose up against
me.
And I partook of their meals.
I knew no more than I was a king's son,
And served their king,
And forgot also the pearl,
For which my parents had sent me,
And owing to the heaviness of their food
I sunk into a deep sleep.
1 10. When I suffered thus
12 Syriac : one anointed.
ACTS OF THOMAS 315
My parents perceived it and were afflicted for me.
And a message was announced in our kingdom,
That all sliould come to the gates.
And the kings and worthies of Parthia
And all the great ones of the East
Passed a resolution on my account,
That I should not remain in Egypt.
And those in power wrote also to me.
By signing their names, as follows :
' From thy father, the king of kings,
And from thy mother, which rules the East,
And from thy brother, the second after us.
To our son in Egypt, Greeting!
Arise and wake up from the sleep
And hear the words of the letter
And consider that thou art a king's son.
< Behold, > thou hast taken upon thee a slave's
yoke!
Think of the pearl.
On whose account thou wert sent to Egypt,
Think of thy gold-wrought garment,
< Think of the glorious toga
Which thou art to put on and with which thou art to
adorn thyself. >
Thy name was mentioned in the book of life ^^
And with thy brother <our substitute, thou shalt
be>
In our kingdom.
III. < My letter is a letter, >
13 Syriac : l)ook of the valiants.
3l6 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Which the king has sealed
Because of the wicked Babylonians
And the tyrannical demons of Labyrinth. ^^
<It (i. e. the letter) flew like the eagle,
The king of all fowls.
It flew and came down to me
And was all speech. >
Through its voice and its audible sound
I started up from the sleep,
Took it and kissel it,
< Broke its seal> and read.
Its contents agreed with that
Which was written in my heart.
At once I remembered that I am a king's son,
And my free origin longed after its kind,
I also remembered the pearl.
For which I was sent to Egypt ;
And with sayings I began <to enchant >
The fearful <and devouring > serpent.
I lulled it asleep <and sunk it into slumber, >
For I mentioned the name of my father over it,
<And the name of our second one
And of my mother, the queen of the East. >
And I seized the pearl
And returned to bring it to my parents.
And I took off the dirty garment
And left it behind in its country.
And immediately I directed my way
To the light of my country in the East.
!■* Syriac : Sarbug.
ACTS OF THOMAS 317
And on the way I found my letter <before me,>
Which had started me.
And as it started me who was asleep, by its voice
It also led me through the light proceeding from it.
For the royal letter made of Serean ^' tissue
Shone sometimes before my eyes
<And by its voice and guidance
It encouraged again my haste. >
x\nd love leading and drawing me
I passed by Labyrinth/^
Left Babylon to my left
And came to the great Mesene,
<The port of the merchants, >
Situated at the seashore.
<And my precious garment, which I had taken off,
And the cloak, with which I was clothed —
From the heights of Warkan my parents had sent
By their treasurers,
Whom they had intrusted with them because of
their faithfulness. >
T12. But I remembered no more its splendor
For as a young boy I left it in the palace of the
father.
Suddenly I saw the < glorious > garment
Looking like a mirror of mine.
I beheld it entirely in me,
I knew and saw myself wholly by it.
IB According to Phiny hist. nat. VI, 17 (20), 54 f. ; XXXVI,
14 (41), the ancients received their silken materials from
Ser, in northwestern China.
i« Syriac : Sarbug.
3l8 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
<We were two, different from each other, >
And yet again one, in one form.
Yea, the treasures also I saw as two.
Which had brought the garment,
And yet they had one form :
Both wore a royal symbol.
The treasure and riches they had in hands
And returned, what belonged to me,
The glorious garment,
Adorned in shining colors
With gold and precious stones
And pearls in apparent color —
They were fastened above,
<And with diamonds all its seams were put to-
gether. >
And the picture of the King of kings
Was fully on the entire garment,
And sapphire stones were fittingly fastened above. ^'
113. And again I saw
That the impulses of knowledge proceeded from the
whole
And it was ready to speak.
I heard, however, how it spoke
<With those which had brought it> :
' I descend from the bravest of all men.
On which account I was educated by the father
himself,
And I perceived myself how my greatness
Grew in correspondence to his energy.'
1'^ Syriac : like sapphire stones glitter its colors.
ACTS OF THOMAS 319
And with its royal motions
It wholly moved toward me.
From their (the bearers') hand it hastened away,
Striving after him, who should receive it.
An ardent desire seized me also
To go to meet it and to receive it,
And I stretched myself and took it.
And adorned myself with the beauty of its colors,
And my cloak, which surpassed that of a king,
I wholly put around me.
And having put it on, I was lifted up
To the gate of salutation and adoration
And I bowed my head and worshiped
The splendor of the Father, who had sent it to me
Whose behests I had executed.
In like manner he also did as he had promised.
And in the gates of his palace
I mingled among his great ones.
And he rejoiced over me and received me,
<And I was with him> in his palace.
All his subjects, however,
Praise him with joyous voices.
And he promised me that to the gate
Of the King'<of kings> I should go with him.
That with my ofiferings and the pearl
Together with him I appear before the king." ^^
IS In the Syriac follows now a lengthy song of praise by
the apostle Thomas. — Concerning our song Lipsius remarks
(p. 296): "The preservation of this precious remainder of
Gnostic poetry we owe to the happy ignorance of the Catholic
reviser, who had no idea what heretical serpent is hidden
beneath the lovely flowers of this poetry."
320 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
114. Charis went home rejoicing, believing that
his wife would live with him again and be as she was
before, ere she heard the divine word and believed in
Jesus. Coming back, he found her hair cut off and
her garment rent. Seeing her, he said to her, " My
lady Mygdonia, why does this nauseous disease
take possession of thee? And why hast thou done
this? I am thy husband since the time of thy
virginity, and the gods as well as the laws give me
the right to rule over thee. What is this great mad-
ness of thine that makes thee ridiculous in the eyes
of all the people? Put away the anxiety which
comes from that sorcerer. I shall remove his sight,
that thou shalt see him no more."
115. When Mygdonia. heard these words, she
gave vent to her feelings and sighed and lamented.
And Charis said again, " I must have greatly sinned
against the gods, that they have entangled me into
such a disease. I pray thee, Mygdonia, torment not
my soul by this thy lamentable sight and humble
appearance, and make my heart not heavy through
the anxiety for thee. I am thy husband Charis,
whom all the people honor and fear. What shall I
do? I know not how to act. What shall I think?
Shall I keep silence and bear ? And who can bear it
when his treasure is taken from him? And who
could tolerate to be deprived of thy good manners?
Thy sweet savor is in my nostrils and thy cheerful
face is in my eyes. They take away my soul, and
the very beautiful body which I enjoyed when I saw
it, they destroy and blind the sharp looking eye and
ACTS OF THOMAS 32 1
cut off my right hand. My joy is turned into sad-
ness, and my life into death, the Hght is dipped into
darkness. None of my relatives shall see me any
more, none of whom have helped me, and the gods
of the East I shall worship no more, which have
surrounded me with such great misfortune. And
indeed I shall no more pray to them nor sacrifice to
them, having been deprived of my wife. What else
shall I. ask of them? All my glory has been taken
away. And I am a prince, the second in the gov-
ernment of the king. All this Mygdonia has taken
from me by rejecting me. No matter if they knock
my eyes out, if only thou turnest thy eyes upon me
in the accustomed manner ! "
116. While Charis was sepaking thus with
tears, Mygdonia sat silent and looked on the ground.
He came near and said, " My most beloved lady
Mygdonia, remember that of all the women in In-
dia I selected thee as the most beautiful and took
thee, although I could have married others, more
beautiful than thee. But no, I lie, Mygdonia. For
by the gods it is imposible to find one like thee in the
land of the Indians. Woe to me ever, that thou dost
not even answer me! Abuse me, if it pleases thee,
but speak. Look at me (and see), that I am by far
better and more beautiful than tliat sorcerer. I
have riches and honor, and all know that none has
such a family as mine. But thou art my riches and
honor, thou art family and kindred. And behold,
he separates thee from me."
117. When Charis had said this, Mygdonia said
322 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
to him, " He whom I love is better than thee and thy
possession. For thy possession, being earthly, re-
turns to earth. But he whom I love is heavenly
and shall bring me also into heaven. Thy riches
shall pass away, and thy beauty shall be destroyed,
so likewise thy garments and thy many works.
And thou remainest alone with thy trespasses. But
remind me not of thy actions to me. For I pray
to the Lord that thou wouldest forget and think no
more of the former pleasures and the bodily con-
nection, which shall pass like a shadow, Jesus
alone remains forever, and the souls which trust in
him. Jesus himself shall free me from the filthy
deeds which I did before with thee."
Upon hearing this, Charis, broken in his soul,
turned to sleep, saying to her, " Think the matter
over during the night! If thou wilt be with me as
before, ere thou didst see the sorcerer, I will fulfill
all thy wishes, and if it pleases thee on account of
thy kind disposition toward him, I shall release him
from the prison and set him free and let him go to
another country. And I shall not grieve thee, for I
know how much thou thinkest of the stranger. He
made not a beginning with thee, but like thee he
also deceived many other women. These have come
to their senses and think differently. Now consider
my words and make me not a reproach in the land
of the Indians."
1 1 8. Thus speaking, he fell asleep. And she
took ten denarii, and went secretly away to give
them to the keepers of the prison in order to be per-
ACTS OF THOMAS 323
mitted to go to the apostle. By the way Judas
Thomas met her, who went to her. Upon seeing
him, she was afraid, because she took him for one
of the princes, as much light went before him. And
running away, she said within herself, " I have ru-
ined thee, poor soul, for thou shalt not again see
Judas, the apostle of the living God, and hast not
received the holy seal." And running away she
went to a narrow place and hid herself there, saying,
" It is better to be caught by poorer ones, which one
can persuade, than to meet with this powerful prince,
who despises presents."
Tenth Deed.
how mygdonia receives baptism.
(Aa. pp. 229-240.)
119. As Mygdonia was considering this within
herself, Judas came in and went to her. And see-
ing him, she was afraid, and fell down like dead.
He came to her, took her by the hand, and said to
her, " Fear not, Mygdonia ; Jesus will not forsake
thee, and thy Lord will not neglect thee, to whom
thou hast given thyself; his merciful rest will not
fail thee ; the kind will not forsake thee on account
of his great kindness, and the good because of his
goodness. Arise from the ground, since thou art
raised above it. Behold the light, for the Lord
suffers not those which love him, to walk in dark-
ness. Look at the companion of his servants, be-
324 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
cause he is their fellow-combatant in dangers."
And Mygdonia rose up, looked at him, and said,
" Whither didst thou go, my lord ? And who is it
which took thee out from prison to see the sun?"
Says Judas Thomas to her, " My Lord Jesus is more
powerful than all powers and kings and princes."
120. And Mygdonia said, " Give me the seal of
Jesus Christ, and let me receive a gift from thy
hands before thou departest the life!" And she
took him, went into the court, awoke the nurse, and
said to her, " My mother and nurse Marcia,^ all
helps and joys, which thou hast given me from child-
hood, were vain, and I owe thee (only) temporary
thanks. And now show me a favor, that thou may-
est ever receive recompense from him who gives the
great gifts." Upon this Marcia said, " What is thy
wish, my daughter Mygdonia, and what can be done
for thy pleasure? The honors which thou didst
promise to me before, the stranger did not suffer
thee to show, and thou hast made me a reproach
among the whole people. And now — what new
thing dost thou ask of me? " Mygdonia said, " Be
thou my partner for eternal life, that I receive from
thee perfect nourishment. Take a loaf and bring it
to me, also a very small measure of water, having
forbearing regard for my free birth." And the
nurse said, " I will bring thee many loaves, and in-
stead of (the very small measure of) water I wall
bring measures of wine and fulfill thy wish." And
1 The Syriac: Narcia; the Latin (Miracula beati Thomce
ed. Gregory of Tours, in Fabricius H, 687 ff). Narchia.
ACTS OF THOMAS 325
she said to the nurse, " I need no measures, nor also
the many loaves, but this only bring: a small meas-
ure of water, a loaf and oil."
121. When Marcia had brought these things,
Mygdonia stood before the apostle with uncovered
head. And he took the oil, poured it upon her head,
and said, " Holy oil, given to us for sanctification ;
hidden mystery, in which the cross is shown to us ; '
thou art the extender of the bent members; thou art
the humbler of the hard works; thou dost point out
the hidden treasures ; thou art the sproud of good-
ness. Let thy power come and rest on thy servant
Mygdonia, and heal her by this liberty." ^ Having
poured out the oil, he bade the nurse to undress her
and to put around her a linen dress. And there was
in that place a spring to which the apostle went and
baptized Mygdonia in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost. And when she was
baptized and had dressed herself, he broke bread,
took a cup of water, made her partake of the body
of the Messiah and of the cup of the Son of God,
saying, " Thou hast received thy seal and obtained
eternal life!" And instantly a voice was heard
from above, saying, " Yea, Amen ! " When Mar-
cia heard this voice, she became afraid, and asked
the apostle to give her the seal also, and the apostle
did, and said, " May the zeal of the Lord encom-
pass thee like the others! "
2 This is the reading of the text, which is no doubt corrupt.
The reading ought to be something which denotes anointing
with oil.
326 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
122. When the apostle had done this, he re-
turned to the prison, found the doors open and the
keepers sleeping. And Thomas said, " Who is like
thee, God, who keepest thy tender love and thy zeal
from none ; who is like thee, merciful who hast saved
thy creatures from the evil? Life, which has over-
come death ; rest, which ends the toil ! Glory be to
the only -begotten of the Father; glory to the Merci-
ful, who was sent out of mercy!" Having said
this, the keepers woke up and saw all the doors
opened, but the prisoners within. And they said
within themselves, *' Have we not secured the doors ?
How are they now opened and the prisoners
within?"
123. When it was day, Charis went to Mygdo-
nia. And he found them (both) praying and say-
ing, " New God which has come to us through the
stranger; God, hidden from the inhabitants of In-
dia; God, who hast shown thy glory through thy
apostle Thomas; God, of whom we heard and in
whom we believe ; God, to whom we have come to
be saved ; God, who out of kindness and compassion
didst come down to our weakness ; God, who didst
seek us when we did not know thee ; God, who
dwellest in the heights and art not hidden from the
depths, take from us the madness of Charis."
Upon hearing this, Charis said to Mygdonia,
" Justly thou callest me bad and ugly and mad !
For had I not tolerated thy disobedience and given
thee freedom, thou shouldest not have called against
me and remembered mv name before God. But be-
ACTS OF THOMAS 327
licve, Mygdonia, that nothing is to be gained from
the sorcerer, and that he cannot do what he prom-
ises. But I do everything that I promise before
thine eyes, that thou shouldest beheve and endure
my words and be toward me as before."
124. And coming near, he asked her again, and
said, "If thou obeyest me, I shall have no more
pains. Remember that day on which we first met.
Tell the truth : did I not appear to thee then more
beautiful than Jesus now?" And Mygdonia said,
" That time required its own, and this requires its
own. That time was that of the beginning, but this
is that of the end. That time was that of the
earthly life, this that of the everlasting. That was
one of a temporary pleasure, this that of an ever-
lasting. That was that of the day and of the night,
this that of the day without night. Thou hast seen
the wedding which passed over and remains here
(on earth.) This wedding remains in eternity.
That communion was that of destruction, this is that
of eternal life. Those groomsmen and bridesmaids
are temporary men and women ; the present, how-
ever, remain unto the end. That wedding <is
founded upon earth, in which oppression spread,
this stands in the transition through fire, to which
grace was sprinkled. > That bride-chamber passes
away, but this remains for ever. That bed w'as
covered with mantles, but this with charity and faith.
Thou art a bridegroom, which passes away, and is
destroyed, but Jesus is the true bridegroom, remain-
ing immortal in eternity. That bridal present was
328 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
treasures and garments which wax old; this, how-
ever, is Hving words which never pass away."
125. Having heard this, Charis went to the king,
and told him all. And the king ordered to bring
Judas for a trial and to kill him. But Charis said,
" Have a little patience, O king ; frighten the man
first by words, and persuade him to induce Myg-
donia that she become toward me as before." And
Misdai sent for the apostle of the Messiah and had
him brought from the prison. And all prisoners
were sad because the apostle went away from them
— for they all loved him very much — and said,
" Even this consolation which we had is taken from
us!"
126. And Misdai said to the apostle, " Why
teachest thou this new doctrine, which gods and
men hate and in which there is no profit?" And
Judas said, "What bad thing do I teach?" Mis-
dai said, " Thou teachest that it is impossible for
men to have life with God unless they keep pure to
the God whom thou preachest." Judas said,
"Thou speakest true, O king; this I teach indeed.
For tell me : art thou not indignant when thy sol-
diers accompany thee in filthy garments? Now, if
thou, who art an earthly king and returnest to earth,
demandest that thy subjects are decent in their ex-
terior, how couldst thou be angry and say that I teach
evil by saying: those who serve my king must be
holy and pure and free from every sadness and care
for children and unnecessary riches and transitory
ACTS OF THOMAS 329
unrest? Thou requirest thy subjects to follow thee
in conversation and manners, and when they despise
thy commandments, thou punishest them; how
much more ought they which believe on my God
serve him with much holiness, purity, and chastity,
free from all fleshly pleasures, from adultery and
dissipation, theft, drunkenness, gluttony, and
(other) dishonorable acts ! "
127. When Misdai heard these things, he said,
*' Behold, I set thee free. Go and persuade Myg-
donia, Charis's wife, that she separate not from
him." Said Judas to him, " Delay not, if thou
meanest to do something (against me). For if she
has received that in a right way, which she has
learned, neither iron, nor fire, nor anything else
which is stronger than these things will be able to
harm her nor to separate him (from her) whom she
retains in her soul." Said Misdai to Judas, " Some
remedies make others without effect, and theriac
makes bites of an adder ineffective. And if thou
only wishest thou canst make ineffective the charms
(formerly applied by thee), and bring about peace
and concord among husband and wife. For by
doing this thou savest thyself. For thou hast not
yet lived thy life to the full. And know, if thou
persuadest her not, I shall tear thee away from this
life welcomed by all." And Judas said, " This life
is given to us as a loan, and this time changes. The
life, however, which I teach is imperishable,
whereas beauty and visible youth shall be no more
330 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
after a short time." And the king said, " I ad-
vised thee what is profitable, but thou makest thy
position worse."
128. When the apostle had left the king, Charis
came and said to him beseechingly, " I pray thee, O
man — for I never did anything wrong to thee or
someone else nor against the gods — why hast thou
brought such great misery upon me? Why hast
thou excited such a sedition against my house ? And
what profit hast thou thereof? But if thou think-
est to profit by it, tell me what kind of profit it is,
and I will obtain it for thee without trouble. Why
make me mad, and destroy thyself? For if thou
persuadest her not I shall lay my hand on thee and
finally kill myself. But if, as thou sayest, there is
life and death after this life, besides also a condem-
nation and victory and a judgment, I shall appear
there also and be judged with thee, and if God,
whom thou preachest, is just and judges justly, I
know that I shall be vindicated. For thou didst
harm me, without ever having been harmed by any-
one. Here I can avenge myself for everything that
thou didst against me. Obey me, therefore, and go
into my house and persuade Mygdonia to behave
toward me as before, ere she saw thee. Judas said
to him, " Believe me, my son, if men loved God as
much as one another, they would receive from him
everything that they ask, without being forced by
anyone."
129. While Thomas was saying this, they came
into the house of Charis and found Mygdonia sit-
ACTS OF THOMAS 33I
ting, and Marcia standing by her and with her hand
on Mygdonia's cheek. And she said, " Mother, O
that the remaining days of my life be shortened and
all hours be like one hour, and I could leave this life
to depart sooner and see that beautiful One of whom
I heard from hearsay, the Living who gives life to
all, that believe on him, go (thither) where there
is neither day and night nor light and darkness,
neither good and bad nor poor and rich, male and
female, free or bond, not a proud and one neglecting
the meek." And while she was thus speaking, the
apostle came to her. And immediately she rose up
and fell down before him. And Charis said to him,
" Seest thou how she fears and honors thee, and
willingly does what thou commandest ?"
130. Having said this, Judas said to Mygdonia,
" Obey, my daughter Mygdonia, what Brother
Charis saith." And Mygdonia saith, " If thou
couldst not express the thing by a word, how wilt
thou force me to suffer the deed ? For I heard thee
say that this life is only a loan, and that this rest is
only temporary and these possessions transient.
And again thou didst say, that he who turns away
from this life shall receive the everlasting, and who-
ever hates the light of the day and of the night shall
see light which is not broken, and that he who de-
spises these treasures shall find others, everlasting
treasures. And now thou sayest this, because thou
art afraid. Who changes a work which he has exe-
cuted and in which he glories? <Who builds a
tower and> destroys it again? Who covers again
332 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
a water fountain, which he dug in a dry place?
Who finds a treasure and uses it not?" Upon
hearing this, Charis said, " I shall not imitate you
nor hasten to destroy you. As for thee, since I
have the power, I will put thee in fetters and not
permit thee to speak with the sorcerer. And if thou
obey est me <it is well; if not,> I know what I
have to do."
131. Judas left the house of Charis and went to
the house of Si for, and abode with him. And
Si for said, " I will prepare for him a dining room
in which he shall teach." And he did so. And
Si for said, " I and my wife and my daughter shall
from now on live in holiness, in purity, and in one
mind. I pray thee, give us the seal that we become
servants of the true God and such as belong to his
lambs." And Judas said, " I fear to say what I
think. I know something, and what I know I can-
not express."
132. And he began to speak of baptism: " This
baptism is forgiveness of sins. It is a light shed
abroad everywhere. It generates the new man,
< renews the thoughts, mixes soul and body,>
establishes in a threefold ^ manner the new man,
and is partaking of forgiveness of sin. Praise be
to thee, hidden power, which is united with us by
baptism ! Praise be to thee, invisible power, which
is in the baptism ! Praise be to thee, renovation, by
which those to be baptized are renewed,* taking
8 Syriac : in the Trinity.
* Comp. Titus in, 5.
ACTS OF THOMAS 333
hold of thee with love." And having said this, he
poured oil upon their heads, and said, 'Traise be to
thee, love of mercy ! Praise be to thee, name of the
Messiah ! Praise be to thee, power, which dwellest
in Christ ! " And he had a basin brought and bap-
tized them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost.
133. And when they were baptized and had
dressed, he put bread on the table, and blessing it,
said, " Bread of life, whose eaters shall be imper-
ishable; bread which satisfies hungry souls with its
blessedness — thou hast been deemed worthy to re-
ceive a gift, that thou becomest to us a forgiveness
of sins, and those that eat thee, immortal ; we name
over thee the name of the mother, the hidden mys-
tery of the hidden dominions and powers, we name
over thee the name of Jesus." And he said, " Let
the power of the blessing rest upon the bread, that
all souls which partake of it be delivered from their
sins." And he brake the bread and gave it to Sifor
and to his wife and daughter.
Eleventh Deed,
concerning the wife of misdai.
(Aa. pp. 240-245.)
134. After King Misdai had dismissed Judas, he
went to his house to partake of the meal and told
his wife what had happened to their relative Charis,
saying, *' See what happened to the unfortunate one !
334 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Thou knowest thyself, my sister Tertia, that the
man has nothing more beautiful than his wife,
which he enjoys. Now it happened that his wife
went to the sorcerer, of whom thou hast heard that
he came as a stranger into the land of the Indians,
and she became enticed by his sorceries and sepa-
rated from her husband. And he knows not what
to do. And as I was about to destroy the wicked
fellow, he would not allow it. But go thou and ad-
vise her to turn again to her husband, and to keep
away from the foolish words of the sorcerer."
135. And Tertia rose up immediately and went
to the house of Charis, the relative of her husband.
And she found Mygdonia prostrated upon the
ground resting on a sack and ashes. And she
prayed that the Lord would pardon her her former
sins and quickly take her from this life. And Ter-
tia says to her, " Mygdonia, most beloved sister and
companion, what disease has taken hold of thee?
Know thyself and return again. Draw near to thy
numerous family, and save thy husband Charis,
and do not what is unbecoming thy free birth!"
Says Mygdonia to her, " O Tertia, thou hast not yet
heard the preacher of life! His voice has not yet
come to thy ears, neither hast thou tasted the medi-
cine of life, nor hast thou been delivered from
destructive sighs. Since thou standest in the tem-
porary life, thou knowest not the life eternal and the
redemption, and without perceiving the imperish-
able communion <thou art tormented by corrupti-
ble communion >. Thou standest here clad in
ACTS OF THOMAS 335
garments which wax old, and longest not for the
eternal. Thou art proud of thy beauty which shall
be destroyed, and considerest not the ugliness of the
soul. Thou art rich in slaves. <but freest not thy-
self from slavery. > Thou art proud of the glory
of the multitude, but freest not thyself from the
condemnation of death."
136. When IMygdonia had spoken thus, Tertia
said, " I pray thee, sister, bring me to the stranger,
who teaches these great things, that I may also go
and hear him and be taught to worship the God
whom he preaches and take part in his prayers and
in that of which thou hast spoken to me." Myg-
donia says to her, " He is in the house of Sifor the
commander, who became the cause of life for all
who are saved in India." Upon hearing this, Ter-
tia went hastily to the house of Sifor to see the new
apostle which had come into the land. When she
entered, Judas said to her, " What hast thou come
to see ? A stranger and poor and despised and beg-
gar, who has neither riches nor possession? But
one possession I have which neither a king nor a
prince can take away, which is neither destroyed
nor does it cease, which is Jesus, the redeemer of
mankind, the Son of the living God, who gave life
to all which believe on him and take their refuge to
him, and who is known by the number of his ser-
vants." Says Tertia to him, " Let me have part in
this life, which, as thou promisest. all shall receive
which come to the shelter of God." And the apos-
tle said, " The treasury of the holy King is opened,
336 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
and they which worthily take part of the treasures
deposited there rest, and by resting they reign. But
no unclean and bad comes to him. For he knows
our heart and the depth of thoughts, and none can
be hidden from him. Thou also, if else thou truly
believest on him shall be deemed worthy of his mys-
teries, and he will make thee great and rich and an
heir of his Kingdom."
137. Having heard this, Tertia returned to her
house rejoicing. And she found her husband, who,
without having breakfasted, had waited for her.
When Misdai saw her, he said, " Why is thy com-
ing in so much more beautiful to-day? And why
didst thou come on foot, which is unbecoming a per-
son like thee?" Tertia says to him, " I am under
great obligation to thee for having sent me to Myg-
donia. For by going there I heard of the new life
and saw the apostle of the new God, who gives life
to them who believe on him and fulfill his com-
mandments. I owe it to thee on my part also to
recompense this grace by a good exhortation. For
thou shalt be a great king in heaven, if thou obeyest
me and fearest the God preached by the stranger
and keepest thyself holy to the living God. For
this kingdom passes away, and thy rest (recreation)
will be turned into sadness. But go to that man
and believe him, and thou shalt live unto the end."
When Misdai heard this from his wife, he struck
his face with the hands, tore his garment, and said,
" Let the soul of Charis have no rest, because he has
struck me at the soul, and let him have no hope, be-
ACTS OF THOMAS 337
cause he has taken away my hope." And he went
away hence perplexed.
138. In the market he found his friend Charis,
and said, " Why didst thou throw me as thy com-
panion into Hell? Why hast thou robbed me and
caused loss to me without having profited anything
thyself? Why hast thou hurt me without having
any benefit ? Why hast thou killed me without hav-
ing life thyself? Why hast thou wronged me with-
out having obtained the right thyself? Why didst
thou not suffer me to kill the sorcerer, ere he de-
stroyed my house by his sorcery? " And he quar-
reled with Charis, and Charis said, " What has
happened to thee?" And Misdai said, "He has
bewitched Tertia ! " And both went to the house of
the commander Si for. And they found Judas sit-
ting and teaching. And those present rose up be-
fore the king, but he (Judas) did not get up. And
Misdai knew that it was he, took the seat and
upturned it, and in lifting up the chair with the two
hands, he struck him so hard on the head that he
wounded him. And he delivered him to his soldiers
with the words, " Drag him along by force without
regard to him, that his impudence may become
known to all." And they dragged him to a place
where Misdai was in the habit of judging. There
he stood, held by the soldiers of Misdai.
338 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Twelfth Deed.
CONCERNING VAZAN, MISDAl's SON.
{Aa. pp. 245-258)
139. And Vazan, Misdai's son, went to the sol-
diers and said, '* Give him to me that I may speak
to him till the king comes." And they handed him
over. And he led him to the place where the king
used to judge. And Vazan says, " Knowest thou
that I am the son of Misdai the king, and that I am
at liberty to say to the king what I will, and that
<when I tell him,> he will spare thy life? Tell
me, therefore, who thy God is, and on whose power
thou reliest and in which thou gloriest? For if it is
a power and are of sorcery, tell it and teach it,
and I set thee free." Says Judas to him, " Thou art
the son of King Misdai, who is a temporal king.
I am, however, the servant of Jesus Christ, the eter-
nal King. Thou art at liberty to tell thy father
that he spare those whom thou wishest in this tem-
poral life, in which men remain not, though thou
and thy father give it to them. I, however, be-
seech my Lord and implore him for men, and he
gives them new life, which abides forever. Thou
gloriest in possession, slaves, garments, revelry, and
unclean couch ; but I glory in poverty, love of wis-
dom, humility, fasting, and prayer, and communion
with the Holy Spirit and with my brethren, which
are worthy of God, and I glory in an eternal life.
Thou hast taken thy refuge in a man like thee, who
ACTS OF THOMAS 339
is unable to save his soul from judgment and from
death; but I have taken refuge in the living God, in
the Redeemer of kings and princes, the Judge of all.
To-day you may live, but not to-morrow; but I
have taken refuge in him who remains in eternity,
who knows all our times and circumstances. But
if thou wilt become a servant of this God, thou
canst become it soon. And that thou art a servant
of him, thou wilt show in the following things :
first in sanctification, which is the principal part of
all good things; then in the communion with this
God whom I preach, in the love of wisdom, in sim-
plicity, in love, in faith, by the hope in him and by
the purity of a pure conversation."
140. And the young man, who became con-
vinced by the Lord, sought an opportunity how he
could help Thomas escape. Whilst meditating
upon it, the king came. And the soldiers took
Thomas and brought him forth. And Vazan also
went with him and stood beside him. And the
king took his seat and had Judas brought in with
his hands tied behind him. Being led into the
midst, he stood still. And the king said, " Tell me
who thou art and by whose power thou doest these
things?" Judas said to him, "I am a man like
thyself, and do these things by the power of Jesus
Christ." And Misdai says, " Tell the truth, ere I
destroy thee." Judas says, " Thou hast no power
over me, as thou thinkest, and wilt hurt me in
nothing." Indignant over the words, the king or-
dered to heat (iron) plates and to put him bare-
340 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
footed on them. And when the soldiers untied his
shoes, he said, " The wisdom of God is better than
the wisdom of men. Thou, Lord and King, and
thy goodness oppose his (the king's) wrath!"
And they brought the plates which were like fire,
and put the apostle on them. And straightway
water rushed forth from the ground, that the plates
were swallowed. And they which held him let him
go and went back,
141. When the king saw the great amount of
water, he said to Judas, " Pray thy God that he de-
liver me from this death, that I perish not by the
flood." And the apostle prayed and said, " Thou
who hast bound this nature and hast united in one
place and sendest to different countries ; who hast
brought it out of disorder to order, who doest great
deeds and great miracles by the hands of thy serv-
ant Judas ; who hast pity on my soul, that I may
always receive thy light; who givest reward to the
weary ; who savest my soul and bringest it again to
its own nature not to unite with those that do
harm; who art always author of life — calm this
element that it rise not and destroy. For there are
some here among those present who shall live, be-
cause they have believed on thee." Having prayed,
the water was soon absorbed, and the place was
dry. And when Misdai saw this he ordered him
to be led to prison, " till I have decided what to do
with him."
142. When Judas was taken to the prison,
ACTS OF THOMAS 341
Vazan, the King's son, went to the right and Si for
to the left. Having entered into the prison, he sat
down, also Vazan and Si for, and the latter per-
suaded his wife and his daughter to sit down. For
they had also come to hear the word of life. For
they knew that Misdai would kill him because of
his very great wrath. And Judas began to say :
" Deliverer of my soul from the servitude of the
multitude, because I suffered myself to be sold, be-
hold, I rejoice and am glad, since I know that
the times are fulfilled, that I go in and receive
<thee>. See, I am freed from earthly cares.
Behold, I complete the hope and receive truth. Be-
hold, I am delivered from sadness and have joy
only. Behold, I am free from care and pain and
live in rest. Behold, I am free from servitude and
I am called to liberty. Behold, I have served times
and seasons of time and have been lifted up above
times and seasons. Behold, I receive <my re-
ward > from the rewarder, who gives without
counting, because his riches are sufficient for his
gifts. < Behold, I undress myself and I dress my-
self, > and shall not again be undressed. Behold, I
sleep and wake up, and shall not sleep again. Be-
hold, I die and return to life, and shall not taste
death again. Behold, with gladness they wait that I
come, and rejoicing with them I shall be put as a
flower into their wreath. Behold, I reign in the
Kingdom, for which I hoped hence. < Behold, the
wicked are confounded who have imagined to sub-
342 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
ject me to their power. > Behold, the disobedient
fall before me, because I have escaped them. Be-
hold, it is peace to which all come."
143. When the apostle spoke thus, all those
present listened, believing that he was to depart his
life in this hour. And he continued, saying, " Be-
lieve in the physician of everything visible and in-
visible and in the redeemer of souls which need his
help. He is free, descending from kings. He is
the Physician of his creatures. It is he who is re-
viled by his own servants. He is the Father of
the height and the Lord and Judge of nature. He
became the highest from the greatest, the only-
begotten Son of the depth. ^ And he was called son
of the virgin Mary and son of the carpenter Jo-
seph; he whose lowliness we beheld with our bod-
ily eyes, whose majesty, however, we have known
by faith and saw it in his works; whose human
body we also touched with hands,^ whose changed
appearance we saw with our eyes, whose heavenly
form, however, we could not see on the mountain ; ^
he who perplexed the princes and overcame death;
he who is infallible truth and paid tribute <and>
head-piece for himself and his disciples ; •* he at
whose sight the prince became afraid and the pow-
ers combined with him were confounded. And the
prince testified who and whence he was, and he did
not tell him the truth, since he is a stranger to
1 Syriac omits : the only . . . depth.
2 Comp. I John I, i ; Luke XXIV, 39.
sComp. Matt. XVH, 1-13.
* Comp. Matt. XVH, 24-27,
I
ACTS OF THOMAS 343
truth ; ^ though having power over the v^orld and
its pleasures, treasures and enjoyments, he < ab-
stains from> all these things and urges on his
subjects to make no use thereof."
144. Having finished his address, he rose and
prayed thus : " Our Father in the heavens, hallowed
be thy name ; thy Kingdom come ; thy will be done
as in heaven, so also on earth; <give us continually
the daily bread ; > forgive us our trespasses as we
have forgiven our debtors; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil.^ My Lord
and my God,^ hope and trust and teacher <and
my encourager,> thou hast taught me thus to
pray. Behold, I pray this prayer and fulfill thy be-
hest. Be thou with me unto the end. Thou hast
planted life in me from my infancy and hast kept
me from destruction. Thou hast led me into the
poverty of the world and hast invited me to the
true riches. Thou hast manifested thyself to me
and shown me that I am thine ; and I kept aloof
from a woman, in order that the things which thou
demandest be not found in pollution.
145. " My mouth is unable to thank thee, and
my mind unable to consider thy zeal for me; who
hast shown me, whilst I wished to become rich and
to acquire, that riches become a punishment for
many on earth. But I believed thy revelation and
remained in the poverty of the world till thou, the
8 Comp. John VIII, 44.
« Comp. Matt. VI, 9-13.
7 John XX, 28.
344 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
true riches, didst come and didst fill me and those
worthy of thee with riches and didst deliver us
from indigence, care and avarice. Behold, there-
fore, I have accomplished thy work and executed
thy behest and became poor, needy, strange, a slave,
despised, imprisoned, hungry, thirsty, naked, and
weary. Let the fulfillment of my trust not be lost,
and may my hope in thee not be confounded ! Let
my toils not be in vain ! Let my continual prayers
and fastings not be lost, and let my deeds for thee
not be lessened ! Let not the devil take the seed of
the wheat from the land,^<and ^ his tares be found
in it; for thy land receives not his tares, and they
cannot be gathered into the barns. ^*^
146. <"I planted thy vine in the ground, let
its sprouts spread in the ground and its shoots go up
to heaven. May it be seen on earth, and may those
enjoy them which are worthy of thee and which
thou hast acquired. Thy silver which thou gavest
to me I put on the table (of the exchangers) ; ^^
call it in and return it to me with interest, as thou
liast promised. With thy pound I gained by
trading ten others, may they be added to me, as
thou hast commanded. I released the debtors the
pound — let it not be sought in my hand, which I
8 Comp. Matt. XHI, 25.
9 From here on to the beginning of 149 the text in the
main manuscript is not altogether complete. Bonnet gives
also a text from another MS., from which as well as from
the Syriac the matter within brackets is given.
10 Comp. Matt. XXV, 27.
11 It will be noticed that here and in the following, refer-
ences are made to the gospels, but in a manner which suits
the whole tendency.
ACTS OF THOMAS 345
have released. Invited to the supper, I came at
once, and excused me not with the piece of ground
and the yoke of oxen and wife. May I not be re-
buked by him, and may I not eat of it only after
compulsion. I was invited to the marriage and put
on white garments. May I be worthy of them and
not be obliged to go into the outer darkness, hand
and foot bound. My lamp radiates in its light ; may
its lord keep it (burning) till he leaves the wedding
house and I receive him. May I not see that it
smokes for want of oil. May my eyes receive
thee, and my heart rejoice, because I have fulfilled
thy will and carried out thy commandments. May
I be likened unto that faithful and wise servant
which is very careful in his watchfulness. Watch-
ing the whole night, I endeavored to guard the
house from robbers, that one dig not through it.
147. <"My loins are girt about with truth,
and my shoes are firmly tied to my feet. May I
not see their bands untied. My hand I put to my
plow and looked not back, that my furrows be not
crooked. My fields are white and long ago ready
for the harvest. May I receive my reward! The
garment waxing old I used, and the work which
brings rest I have finished. I kept my first, second
and third watch, and may I receive thy face and
worship before thy holy splendor. I have de-
stroyed my storehouses and devastated them upon
earth ; may I receive from thy treasure, which di-
minishes not ! The fountain running in me I dried
up; may I rest at thy living fountain and find rest
346 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
there! The bound (prisoner) ^^ which thou didst
give to me I have killed ; deliver the unbound in me,
and may my soul not be deprived of its trust! The
inner I made the outer, and the outer the inner. ^^
May thy will be accomplished in all my limbs ! I
turned not backward, but reached forth unto the
things which are before, let me not become a won-
der or sign! The dead I made not ^^ aHve, and the
living I killed not, and the needy I filled not. May
we receive the crown of victory, O thou powerful
over both worlds ! Disgrace I received upon earth
— get me the reward in heaven.
148. <Let the powers not perceive me, and
those having power not resolve upon me ; let the
publicans not see me and the tax-gatherers not
trouble me ! Let the lowly not despise me, nor the
wicked, the considerate and humble ; and the slave
and the despised and the great, riding the high
horse, let them not dare to stand before me because
of thy victorious power, Jesus, which encompasses
me. For they flee and hide from it, because they
cannot look at it. For unawares they fall upon
those which obey them. One part of the children
12 i.e. the body opposed to the unbound, i.e. the soul.
13 Comp. Gospel of the Egyptians in Pick, Paralipomena,
p. 21.
!•* The Greek has not the negation ; in the Syriac the first
two have the negation, not the third. In the Latin recension
of de miracuUs B. Thomce (ed. Bonnet, 1883, p. 129) the
third has also the negative form. If as Lipsius (I. 330)
remarks, that by the dead (and needy) is meant the material
body, by the living the pneumatic soul, then all three parts
of the sentence must have the negation ; we have translated
accordingly.
ACTS OF THOMAS 347
of the evil one cries and reproves them, and none
remains hidden, because their nature makes itself
known/^ The wicked are separated; the tree of
their fruits is bitterness. Let me quietly pass by
their place and come to thee. May joy and peace
support me, and may I stand before thy glory!
Let not the calumniator look at me, but let his eyes
be dazzled by thy light in which I dwell, and may
his lying mouth be shut, because he has nothing
against me ! "
149. <And turning to those who were in the
prison by him, he said, " Believe, my children, on
this God whom I preach : believe in Jesus Christ,
whom I proclaim ; believe in him who makes alive
and helps his servants ;> believe in the redeemer of
those who toiled in his service. For my soul
already rejoices, because my time is at hand to re-
ceive him. Being beautiful, he makes me always
speak of his beauty, of what manner it is, although
I cannot speak of it as I wish and ought. Thou
who art the light of my poverty, and the supplier of
my want and the provider of my need — be thou
with me till I come and receive thee in eternitv."
15 One j\IS. reads : the part of these bad children cries and
betrays ; wherefore none can remain hidden from them ; an-
other MS. : but the part of the children of the evil one cries
and convinces them, but none of them remains hidden from
them, for their nature makes itself known.
348 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Thirteenth Deed.
how vazan and the others were
baptized.
(Aa. pp. 259-261.)
150. And the young man Vazan asked the apos-
tle and said, I pray thee, man,^ apostle of God,
allow me to go out and I shall persuade the jailer to
let thee go to my house, that from thee I may re-
ceive the seal and become thy servant and one that
keeps the commandment of God whom thou
preachest. For previously I walked already in ac-
cordance with thy preaching till my father forced
me and bound me to a woman named Mnesar. Be-
ing twenty-one years of age, I have been married
to her seven years. Before she became my wife, I
knew no other woman. On this account my father
considered me also as unprofitable. And neither
son nor daughter was ever born to me by this wife.
But my wife also lived all this time in chastity with
me, and to-day I know that if she were well and
heard thy words, that I should have rest and she
would receive eternal life. But danger and many
sufferings try her. I will therefore persuade the
keeper, provided thou wilt come with me. For I
live all alone. At the same time thou healest the
unfortunate." Upon hearing this, Judas, the apos-
tle of the Most High, said to Vazan, " If thou be-
1 Syriac : holy man.
ACTS OF THOMAS 349
lie vest, thou shalt see the wonders of God, and how
he saves his servants."
151. And as they were thus conversing, Tertia
and Mygdonia and Marcia stood in the door of the
prison, and having given three hundred and sixty-
three silver pieces to the jailer, they went in to
Judas. And they found Vazan and Si for and his
wife and his daughter and all prisoners, sitting and
listening to the word. And as they came to him,
he said to them, " Who allowed you to come to us,
and who opened the sealed door to go out ? " Says
Tertia to him, " Hast thou not opened the door and
bidden us to go to the prison, where we should
find our brethren and see the Lord's glory? And
as we came near the door, thou wast separated from
us — I know not how — and being hidden from
us, thou camest here first, where we heard the noise
of the door, as thou didst shut us out. We gave
money to the keepers and thus we got in, and now
we are here and beseech thee to let us help thee to
go away from here, till the anger of the king
against thee ceases." And Thomas said to her,
" Tell us first how you were locked up."
152. And she says to him, " Thou wert with us,
and didst not leave us even for an hour, and thou
canst ask how we were locked up? But if thou wilt
hear, listen : King Misdai sent for me and said, the
magician has not yet become master over thee, be-
cause as I hear, he enchants the people by oil, water
and bread, but he has not yet enchanted thee. Now
obey me, otherwise I shall lock thee up and strike
350 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
thee, and destroy him. For I know that so long as
he has not yet given thee oil, water and bread, he
has not been able to have power over thee. And I
said to him, Thou hast power over my body; do
unto it as thou pleasest ; but my soul I will not de-
stroy with thee. Upon hearing this, he locked me
up in a room. And Charis also brought Myg-
donia and locked her up with me. And thou hast
brought us forth and brought us hither to this
assembly. Now give us the seal that the hopes of
Misdai, who intends this, be destroyed."
153- Upon hearing this, the apostle said,
" Glory to thee, polymorphous Jesus ; praise to
thee, who appearest like our poor humanity!
Praise to thee, who givest to us courage and
strength and joy, and comfort and help in all dan-
gers and strength in our weakness." When he
had said this, the jailer came in and said. " Put
your lamps away, lest we be reported to the king."
Having extinguished the lamps, they turned to
sleep. And the apostle spoke with the Lord, " Now
it is for thee, Jesus, to hasten, or, behold, the chil-
dren of darkness put us into their darkness.
Illuminate us by the light of thy nature ! " And
suddenly the whole prison was as light as the day.
And while all those that were in the prison were
asleep, they who believed on the Lord were awake.
154. And Judas said to Vazan, " Go before and
prepare everything necessary." Says Vazan,
"And who shall open the prison gates? for the
keepers have closed them and are asleep." And
ACTS OF THOMAS 351
Judas said, " Believe on Jesus, and thou shalt find
tl:e gates opened." When he left them to go forth,
the others followed him. And as Vazan went
ahead, he met his wife Mnesar, who went to the
prison. And as she recognized him, she said to
him, "My brother Vazan, is it thou?" He says,
"Yea. And thou art Mnesar?" She says,
" Yea." And Vazan said to her, " Whither art
thou going and at this time? And how didst thou
get up? " And she said, " This young man put his
hand upon me, raised me up, and in my sleep I saw
that I should go where the stranger was to recover
fully." Says Vazan to her, " What young man is
with thee? " She says, " Seest thou not him which
leadeth me by the right hand? "
155. And as they were thus conversing, Judas
came with Si for and his wife and his daughter and
Tertia and Mygdonia and Marcia into the house of
Vazan. And when Mnesar, Vazan's wife, saw it,
she fell upon her knees and said, " Hast thou come
to save us from the heavy disease? Thou art he
whom I saw in the night as he gave me this young
man to bring me to the prison. But thy goodness
would not suffer it to trouble myself, but thou hast
come to me thyself." And when she said this and
turned around, she no more saw the young man.
And not finding him, she said to the apostle, " I can-
not go alone. The young man is not here, which
thou hast given to me." And Judas said, " Jesus
shall lead thee." And she went before them. And
when thev had come into the house of Vazan, the
352 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
son of King Misdai, much light shone to them,
which was spread around them, although it was yet
night.
156. And Judas began to pray and to say,
" Companion and associate, hope of the weak and
trust of the poor, refuge and shelter of the weary,
voice which went forth from on high, comforter
which dwells < among us,> shelter and haven of
those which travel through dark countries, physi-
cian that heals without money, who hast been cru-
cified by men for many, who didst descend into
Hades with great might, whose look the princes of
death could not bear, and didst ascend with much
glory, and didst gather all who take refuge with
thee and didst prepare the way, and in thy steps all
went whom thou hast redeemed and didst lead them
to thy fold and unite with them thy sheep; Son of
mercy, Son sent to us out of philanthropy from the
upper, the perfect fatherland; Lord of undefiled
possessions ; who ministerest unto thy servants that
thfey live; who hast filled the creation with thy
riches; poor one, which was in need and hungered
forty days; who satisfies thirsty souls with thy
goods — be thou with Vazan, Misdai's son, and
Tertia and Mnesar, and gather them into thy fold
and unite them with thy number; be their guide in
the land of error, their physician in the land of
sickness, their rest in the land of the weary; sanc-
tify them in the impure country, be the physician of
their bodies and souls, make them for thy holy
temples, and let thy Holy Spirit dwell in them ! "
ACTS OF THOMAS 353
157. Having thus prayed for them, the apostle
said to Mygdonia, " Undress thy sisters ! " She un-
dressed them and put aprons about them and
brought them. And Vazan had gone first and they
followed. And Judas took oil in a silver cup, and
spoke thus : " Fruit, more beautiful than the other
fruits, with which no other can be united; thou
most compassionate ; thou which burnest by the
power of the word; power of the wood (cross),
with which men by putting it on (by anointing
themselves with it), overcome their enemies; which
crowns the victors; token and joy of the weary;
which has brought to men the good news of their
salvation; which showest light to those that are in
darkness; which art bitter as to the leaves, but
sweet as to the fruit ; which art rough as to the
appearance, but tender as to the use ; which seems
weak, but carries the all-seeing power by the ex-
traordinariness of thy power; Jesus, let thy vic-
torious power come and rest upon this oil as it once
rested upon the wood (cross) related to it — and
thy crucifiers could not bear the word; let also
come the gift by which thou didst blow at thy
enemies and thereby didst bring about that they
went back and fell downward, and may it dwell in
this oil over which we call thy holy name ! " And
after the apostle had said this, he poured it first
upon the head of Vazan, then upon the women,
saying, " In thy name, Jesus Christ, let it be to these
souls for forgiveness of sins and for keeping away
of the enemy and for the salvation of their souls! "
354 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
And he bade Mygdonia to anoint them (the
women), himself anointing Vazan. And having
anointed them, he made them go down into the
water in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.
158. And when they came out of the water, he
took bread and cup, blessed, and said, " We eat thy
holy body, crucified for us ; and we drink thy blood,
shed for us for redemption. May thy body be
redemption for us, and thy blood for the forgive-
ness of sins ! For the gall ^ which thou didst drink
for our sakes, may the gall of the devil around us,
be taken away; and for the vinegar, which thou
didst drink for us, may our weakness be strength-
ened ; for the spittle ^ which thou didst receive for
our sakes, may we receive the dew of thy good-
ness, and for the reed * with which they struck thee
for our sakes, may we receive the perfect house!
And that thou didst receive a crown of thorns " for
our sakes, may we that loved thee crown ourselves
with an imperishable crown! And for the linen,^
in which thou wast wrapped, let us be clothed with
thy invincible power ; for the new tomb ^ and burial
let our souls receive renewal of the soul and of the
body. That thou didst rise again and revive, let us
rise again and live and stand before thee in righte-
2 Comp. Matt. XXVH, 34,
3 Comp. Matt. XXVH, 30,
4 Comp. Matt. XXVH, 29,
5 Comp. Matt. XXVH, 29,
«Comp. MaU. XXVH, 59,
7 Comp. Matt. XXVH, 60,
ACTS OF THOMAS 355
Otis judgment!" And he brake the bread of the
eucharist, gave thanks,^ and gave it to Vazan, Ter-
tia, Mnesar, and to the wife and daughter of Si for,
and said, " May this eucharist be to your salvation
and joy and to the heahng of your souls! " And
they said, " Amen." And a voice was heard, say-
ing " Amen. Be not afraid, only believe! " ^
Martyrdom of the Holy and Famous
Apostle Thomas.
(Aa. pp. 269-288.)
159. And after this Judas went away to be
locked up. And Tertia, Mygdonia and Marcia also
went to be locked up. And Judas said to them,
" My daughters, servants of Jesus Christ, listen to
me on this my last day on which I shall finish my
word among you, because I shall no more speak in
the body (to you). For, lo, I am taken up to my
Lord Jesus, who has had pity upon me, who hum-
bled himself even to my weakness and has brought
me to the service of his majesty and deemed me
worthy to become his minister. And I rejoice that
the time is at hand for my deliverance, that I may
depart and receive my reward in the end. For my
rewarder is just; he knows how to recompense.
8 Comp. Matt. XXVI, 26.
8 In the Syriac the chapter closes thus : " And they said,
' Amen.' And a voice was heard, saying, " Yea and Amen."
And upon hearing this voice, they fell upon their face. And
again a voice was heard saying, " Be not afraid . . ."
356 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
For he is not envious, but liberal with his goods,
relying on his great riches.
1 60. "I am not Jesus, but a servant of Jesus.
I am not Christ, but a servant of Christ. I am
not the Son of God, but I pray to be deemed worthy
of him. Abide in the faith in Jesus Christ ! Wait
for the hope of the Son of God ! Hesitate not in
times of need, and doubt not when you see that I
am reviled, imprisoned and die. For in this body
I only do what is bidden me by the Lord. For if I
wished not to die, you know that I can do it. But
this death is no death, but deliverance and loosen-
ing from the body. And I will joyfully expect it
that I may go and receive the Beautiful and Merci-
ful. For I have become weary of the service which
I did to him, and by that which I executed by his
grace, and now he will not leave me. You, how-
ever, see to it that he comes not into you which en-
ters in and brings doubts to the thoughts. For he
is mightier whom you have received. Wait for his
coming, that he may come and receive you. For
after your departure you shall see him."
161. Having finished this discourse, he entered
into the dark house, and said, " My Saviour, who
hast endured much for our sake, let these doors be
as they were and their seals unbroken!" And he
left the women and went to be locked up. And
they grieved and wept, knowing that King Misdai
would destroy him.
162. /\nd Judas went and found the jailers
fighting, and saying, " ^^^•lat wrong have we done
ACTS OF THOMAS 357
to that sorcerer, that, avaihng himself of his mag-
ical art, he has opened the doors of the prison, and
wishes to set all the prisoners free? But let us go
and report to the king, and let him also know about
his wife and his son." Whilst the keepers medi-
tated upon this, Judas listened silently. And at
dawn they went to King Misdai and said, " Lord,
release that sorcerer, or cause him to be shut else- '
where. <For we , cannot keep him.> For twice
has thy fortune (only) kept the prisoners. When
we lock the doors at the night time, we find them
opened when we rise. Nay, more; thy wife and
son will not keep away from the man any more than
the rest of them." And when the king heard this,
he went to look at the seals which he put to the
doors. And he found the seals as they were, and
said to the jailers, "Why are you telling lies? for
certainly these seals are quite safe. And how do
you say that Tertia and Mygdonia go within the
prison?" And the wardens said, "We have told
thee the truth."
163. And after this the king went to the house
of judgment and sent for Judas. And when he
came, they stripped him, and girded him with an
apron, and set him before the king. And Misdai
said to him, "Art thou a slave or a freeman?"
Judas said, " I am a slave, but thou hast no power
over me whatever." And Misdai said, " How hast
thou run away and come to this country? " Judas
said, " I came here that I might save many, and that
I might by thy hands depart from this body,"
358 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Misdai says to him, " Who is thy master ? and what
is his name? and over what country does he rule? "
" My Lord," says Thomas, " is my Master and
thine, being the Lord of heaven and earth." And
Misdai said, "What is he called?" And Judas
said, " Thou canst not know his true name at this
time, but the name which has been given for a time
is Jesus the Messiah." Misdai said, " I have been
in no hurry to destroy thee, but have restrained
myself; but thou hast added to thy deeds, so that
thy sorceries have been heard of in all the country.
But now I will so act that thy sorceries may also
perish with thee, that our nation may be purified
from them. And Judas said, " These sorceries, as
thou callest them, shall never be removed from the
people here."
164. And after this was said, Misdai reflected
how to put him to death. For he was afraid of the
people standing around, many, even some of the
chief men, having believed in him. And he arose,
and took Judas outside of the city; and a few
soldiers accommpanied him with their arms. And
the multitude thought that the king was wishing
to learn something from him; and they stood and
observed him closely. And when they had gone
forth three stadia, he delivered him to four soldiers,
and to one of the chief officeres, and ordered them
to take him up into the mountain and spear him.
And he returned to the city.
165. And those who were present ran to Judas,
eager to rescue him; but he was led away, accom-
ACTS OF THOMAS 359
panied by four soldiers, two on each side, their
spears in the hands, whilst the chief officer held
him by the hand and led him. And Judas walk-
ing along, said, " O the hidden mysteries of thee,
for even to the close of life are they fulfilled in
us! O the riches of thy grace, which does not
allow us to feel the bodily pains ! For, lo, how four
have laid hold of me, since of the four elements
I have been made! And one leads me, since I be-
long to One to whom I am going. But now I learn
that my Lord, who was of one, was pierced by
one,^ but I, consisting of four, am pierced by four."
166. And as they came to the place where they
were to spear him, Judas said to those that held
him. " Hear me now, at least, when I am depart-
ing from the body; and let not your eyes be dark-
ened in understanding, nor your ears shut up, so
as not to hear ! Believe in the God whom I preach,
after being delivered in your souls from rashness;
and behave in a manner becoming those who are
free, having glory with men and life with God."
167. And he said to Vazan, " Son of the
earthly king and servant of Jesus Christ, give to
those who execute the behest of King Misdai what
is due to them, in order that I may go apart from
them and pray." And when Vazan had persuaded
the soldiers, Judas betook himself to prayer. And
it was as follows : " My Lord and my God, my
Hope and my Redeemer, and my Leader and
1 Comp. John XIX, 34.
360 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
Guide in all countries, be thou with all who serve
thee, and do thou guide me this day, that I may
come to thee ! Let no one take my soul, which I
have given to thee! Let no publicans look at me
and the tribute-gatherers falsely accuse me ! Let
not the serpent see me, and the children of the
dragon hiss at me ! Behold, O Lord, I have ful-
filled thy work and accomplished thy behest. I
have become a slave, wherefore I receive freedom
this day. Do then give it to me perfect! And
this I say not as one who doubts, but that they may
hear it who need to hear."
168. And having prayed, he said to the soldiers,
'* Come, execute the command of him who sent
you ! " And the four pierced him at once and
killed him. But all the brethren wept and wrapped
him in beautiful shawls, and many linen cloths, and
laid him in the tomb in which the former kings
were buried.
169. And Si for and Vazan would not go down
to the city, but, having spent there the whole day,
spent the night there also. And Judas appeared un-
to them and said, " I am not here.^ Why do you
sit here and watch me? For I have gone up, and
received what I hoped for. But rise up and walk,
and after a short time you shall be gathered to
me." And Misdai and Charis greatly afflicted
Tertia and Mygdonia, but did not persuade them
to abandon their opinion. And Judas appeared
2 Comp. Matt. XXVHI, 6.
ACTS OF THOMAS 361
unto them and said, " Forget not the former things !
For Jesus, the Holy and Living, will himself help
you." And as Misdai and Charis and those around
them did not persuade them, they allowed them to
live according to their own will. And all the
brethren there assembled together. For, when
Judas was led to death, he had made Si for a
presbyter in the mountain, and Vazan a deacon.
And the Lord helped them and increased the faith
by means of them.
170. And after a long time it happened that
one of the sons of King Misdai was a demoniac;
and the demon being stubborn, no one was able to
treat him. And Misdai considered and said, " I
will go and open the grave and take one of the
bones of the apostle of God and touch my son with
it, and I know that he shall be cured." And he
went away to do what he intended. And Judas
appeared unto him and said, " Since thou hast not
believed in the living, how wilt thou believe in the
dead? But be not afraid. Jesus the Messiah is
kindly disposed to thee through his great good-
ness." And Misdai found not the bones. For one
of the brethren had taken them away secretly and
carried them into the regions of the West.^ And
he took dust from the place where the bones of the
apostle had lain, touched his son with it, and said,
" I now believe on thee, Jesus, after he has for-
saken me, who always confuses men, that they see
3 According to tradition : to Edessa.
Z(i2 THE APOCRYPHAL ACTS
not thy light." And when the son was healed in
this manner, he (Misdai) took part in the assem-
blies of the brethren, submitting to Si for. And he
asked all brethren to pray for him that he might
obtain mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ.
171. [End of the deeds of the apostle Judas
Thomas, which he did in the land of the Indians,
fulfilling the command of Him who sent him, to
whom be glory for ever and ever! Amen.]
THE END
L INDEX TO TEXTS
Genesis page
iii, I 252
18 252
iv, 5-8 252
vi, 1-4 253
Exodus
i ff. 2.S3
xxxii 253, 283
Numbers
xxii, 21 ff 261
Psalms
cxviii, 22 97
Proverbs
xxi, I , 130
Ecclesiastes
iii, I, 8 283
Isaiah
vii, 13 96
xxviii, 16 97
liii, 2 96
4 90
8 96
Daniel
ii, 34 97
vii, 13 97
Matthew
ii 253
iii, 17 265
iv, 18 200
V, 4 16
7 16
8 15
vi, 9-13 343
25 257
26 249
34 248
vii, 7 272
,15 292
viii, 20 267
2g 265
PAGE
X, 3 223
42 16
xi, 8 257
IS 295
28 295
29 16
29, 30 249
xiii, 25 344
xiv, 19 267
25 267
31 76
xvi, 12-19 • • • 95
27 249
xvii, 1-13 342
II 89
20 76
24-27 342
27 291
xix, 23 257
27, 29 279
XX, 12 278
xxi, 21 ^(i
42 97
xxiii, 4 295
xxiv, 30 97
XXV, 27 344
34 16
xxvi, 3 253
14-16 253
26 355
52, 53 297
64 97
xxvii, II ff 253
29 354
30 354
34 354
59 354
60 354
63 267
xxviii, 6 360
363
364
INDEX
Mark page
i, 16 200
24 265
V, 7 26s
vi, 3 96
viii, 18 294
xi, 23 "^6
xiii, 3 200
Luke
iii, 14 265
V, i-i I 267
23 100
vi, 18 278
vii, II 98
14 100, 267
ix, 52 267
xii, 24 249
xvi, 4 266
xix, 4 258
30 261
xxi, 34 257
xxiii, 18 22
xxiv, 27 277
39 342
John
i, 14 278
40, 44 200
iv, 6 267
vi, 9 200
viii, 44 343
X, II 261
38 90
xi, 16 223
43 267
xii, 22 200
xiv, 22 223
27 285
xvii, 21 90
xviii, II 297
xix, 26 183
34 359
XX, 24 223
28 343
xxi, 2 223
6, II, 12 267
Acts
i, 13 223
iii, 17 278
V, 15 278
PAGE
viii, 18-20 95
X, 42 249
xviii, 28 277
xxviii, 16 57
30 57
Romans
iv, 17 267
viii, 17 16
29 267, 278
xii 60
xvi, 20 268
I Corinthians
ii, 9 120, 258
vi, 3 16
18, 19 IS
vii, 29 16
31 16
xi, 27, 29 59
Galatians
V, 19-21 60
22, 23 60
Ephesians
ii, 22 276
iv, 22, 24 268
25 277
28 268
31 60
V, 3 60
Philippians
ii, 5-11 312
Colossians
i, 19 90
ii, 9 90
iii, 8 60
9 276
9, 10 268
12-16 60
iv, 14 13
II Timothy
i, 15 13
16 14
ii, 18 19
iv, 10 13
Titus
iii, 5 332
Philemon
24 13
INDEX
365
I Peter page
ii, 4, 6 93
iii, 9 277
II Peter
I, 16 89
ii, I 292
I John PAGE
i, I 342
Hebrews
xi, 5 16
Revelation
ix, II 253
II. INDEX TO SUBJECTS
Abban, a merchant, buys the
Apostle Thomas from the
Lord, to be a carpenter
for Gundafor, an Indian
King, 226; thrown into
prison by Gmidafor, 241 ;
released, 244.
Abdias, 125.
Achaia, 218.
Acts, apocryphal, introduction
to, vii ; origin, ix ; pur-
pose, xi ; character, xii.
of Andrew, 200 ff.
of John, 123 ff.
of Paul, I ff.
of Peter, 50 ff.
of Thomas, 222 ff.
Adam, 206.
Aegeates, refused by Maxi-
milla, plots to kill An-
drew, 211; has Andrew
fastened to the cross,
216; the people cry out
against, 218 ; visits An-
drew on the cross and
desires to release him,
219; the miserable death
of, 221.
Aeons, 172, 188.
Africanus, 125.
Agrippa, 112.
Agrippina, 112.
Agrippinus, 85.
Albinus intends to kill Peter,
113; advises Agrippa to
do the same, 114.
Alexander Severus, 223.
Alexander, the Syriarch, falls
in love with Thecla, and
brings her before the
governor of Antioch,
25; his atrocious conduct
towards her, 27 f.
Aline (Alype), 5.
Alphaeus, 225.
Amphion, 6.
Anchares, 4.
Andrapolis, 227.
Andrew, 225.
Andrew, Acts of, 200 ff., in
prison is visited by the
brethren, by Maximilla
and Iphidamia, 204; is
threatened by Aegeates,
205 ; encourages Maxi-
milla not to yield to
Aegeates, 205 ; strength-
ens Stratocles, 209; pre-
dicts his crucifixion, 211;
speaks of his mission,
212; of his fate, 213;
apostrophizes the cross,
215 ; is fastened to the
cross, 216; smiles and
discourses to the people
from the cross, 217 ; re-
fuses to be released from
the cross, 219; his death,
220 ; his body taken down
by Maximilla and Strato-
cles, 221.
Andronicus, 146, 159.
Animals, speaking, 74, 260,
288, 290.
Antioch, 4, 13, 24.
Antulus, 83.
Apollophanes, 7.
Apostles, the, apportion the
regions of the world be-
tween them, 225.
Apostolics, 201, 223.
Apotactici, 201.
366
INDEX
367
Aricia, 62 ; Simon Magus dies
there, 112.
Aristeus, 61.
Aristippus, 160.
Aristobiila, 160.
Aristodemus, 136, 142.
Ariston, 66.
Armenian Bible, 36.
Artemilla, 3.
Artemis — temple, destroyed,
148.
Authors or authorities re-
ferred to :
Abdias, 161, 175.
Acta Concil. Nic, 144.
Acta Nerei et Achillei, 56.
Acta Philippi, 56.
Acts of Thomas, 79.
Actus Vercellenses, 51, 52.
Ambrose, 12.
Aphraates, Z7-
Apocalypse of Peter, 273.
Ascensio Jesaise, 96.
Augustine, 56, 183, 195, 201,
223.
Bardesanes, 312.
Barhebrseus, 223.
Basil, 10.
Bedjan, 224.
Berger, ^H.
Binder, 195.
Bonnet, 9, 124, 125, 126,
144, 17s, 192, 201, 221,
223, 225, 344.
Book of Jubilees, 59.
Bratke, },j.
Budge, 224.
Carriere, t^t.
Cassian, 158.
Chrysostom, 12.
Clem. Alexandrinus, 96,
120, 124, 125, 179, 196.
Clementine Homilies, 108.
Clementine Recognitions,
108.
Codex Claromontanus, 3, 4.
Cyril of Jerusalem, 224.
Decretum Gclasianum, 4, 10.
De Rossi, log.
Ephrsem Syrus, 36.
Epiohanius, 12, 96, 201, 22^.
Euodius of Uzala, 201.
Eusebius, 3, 51, 56, 200, 201,
223.
Fabricius, 158, i6i.
Picker, 51.
Gieseler, 93.
Gospel of the Egyptians,
346.
Grabe, 9.
Gregory of Nazianzen, 11.
Gregory of Nyssa, 11.
Gregory of Tours, 324.
Harnack, 61.
Hennecke, 8, 125, 201.
Herder, 196.
Hermas, 59.
Hilgenfeld, 56, 180.
Hippolytus, 2.
Innocentius 1., 201.
Irengeus, 108.
Isidore of Pelusium, 12.
James, 3, 51, 175, 224,
Jerome, 10, 12, 56.
John of Damascus, 12.
John of Salisbury, 3.
Justin Martyr, 59, 75, 90.
Lazius, 125.
Leipoldt, 8, 51.
Lemm, 116.
Lightfoot, 109.
Lipsius, viii, xii, xiv, 9, 51,
97, 106, 125, 175, 180, 188,
195, 200, 201, 223, 226,
231, 241, 269, 312, 319,
346.
Lugano, 75, 109.
Luther, 15.
Malala, 14.
Malan, 224.
Methodius, 10.
Mosinger, 37.
Muratorian Fragment, 4,
200.
Neander, 126.
Nicephorus, 4, 124, 223.
Nicephorus Callisti, 2, 3, 14.
Nicetas of Paphlagonia, 10.
Orac. Sibyllina, 96.
Origen, 2, 95, 222.
368
INDEX
Passio Petri et Pauli, no.
Paul de Tamoueh, 93.
Pfleiderer, 180.
Philastrius of Brescia, 51,
201,
Photius X, 50, 223.
Pick, II, 76, 107, 119, 120,
182, 273.
Pliny, 317, 346.
Preuschen, 231, 312.
Priscillian, 51.
Prochorus, 126.
Pseudo-Cyprian, 182.
Pseudo-Lucian, 14.
Ramsay, 14.
Resch, 96, 97.
Rinck, 36.
Roswitha, 161.
Schaefer, 56.
Schimmelpfeng, 221.
Schmidt, x, xi, 2, 4, 2i7t 5i>
52, 201.
Schnudi, Life of, 93.
Simeon Metaphrastes, 10.
Sulpicius Severus, 12.
Sylvia of Aquitania, 12.
Tertullian, 7, 8, 10, 59, 96.
Thilo, 124, 158.
Thomas, Gospel of, 291.
Tillemont, 10.
Tischendorf, 9, 126, 188,
191, 195, 225.
Turribius of Astorga, 223.
Vetter, 36.
Walker, 223.
Wilson, 196.
Wright, 224.
Zahn, X, 51, 52, 124, 125,
126, 144, 159, 161, 171,
175, 179, 180, 183, 188,
192, 195, 223.
Zeno of Verona, 12.
Babylon, 317.
Balaam, 261.
Ballnis, 61.
Baptism, 332.
Barnabas, 63.
Barrabas Justus, 45.
Barsabas, 48.
Bartholomew, 235.
Berenice, 61.
Berus, 145.
Bread, breaking of, 15, 191,
izz, 355.
CcTsarea, 64.
Caiaphas, 72, 253.
Cain, 252, 296.
Callimachus tries to defile the
body of Drusiana, is pre-
vented by a snake, 166 ;
is raised by John, 168;
makes a full confession,
168.
Candida, 57.
Castellius, 19.
Cestus, 46, 48.
Chalcedon, 312.
Charis, 294; is refused by
Mygdonia, 299 ; his dream,
300; enraged, goes to
King Misdai, 307 ; drags
Thomas before the
King, 311; entreats Myg-
donia again and again
to live with him as be-
fore, 320 ; seeks the help
of the apostle Thomas,
330.
Christ Jesus :
some events of his life, 69,
91, 291 f., 342.
his deity, 31, 172, 174, 189,
193, 245, 266, 278, 293, 342,
359-
incarnation and birth, 14,
39, 40, 69, 287.
transfiguration, 89, 178.
descent into Hades, 352.
resurrection, 14, 191, 293.
ascension, 187, 293.
names of, 90, 184, 191.
forms of, 90, 176 f, 247.
Chrysa, 6.
Chryse, what she is told in a
dream, 106.
Chrysippus, 6.
Cleobius, 7, 38, 61, 136, 142,
159-
INDEX
369
Cleon, s, 6.
Cleopatra, 137.
Coptic Acts of Paul, contents
of, 4 ff.
Coptic Fragment of Acts of
Peter, 52.
Corinth, 7.
Corinthians, correspondence
with Paul, 35 ff .
Cross, Andrew's address to
the, 215.
Daemonicus, 136, 142.
Dalmatia, 43.
Daniel, 2.
Daphne, 23.
Daphnus, 38.
David, 14, 40.
Demas and Hermogenes, 13 ;
their evil counsel against
Paul and Thecla, 19.
Demetrius, 61.
Demiurge, 216.
Demon, an unclean, which
had tormented a woman
for years, expelled by
Thomas, 262 f .
Demoniac healed by John,
134-
Devil, an Ethiopian, xiii, 93.
Dion, 5.
Dionysius, 61.
Domitian follows Vespasian,
127; is excited by the
Jews against the Chris-
tians, issues an edict
agamst the Christians,
128 sends soldiers to Eph-
esus to arrest John, 128;
his interview with John,
130* entreats John to heal
a female slave seized by a
demon, 134; sends John
to Patmos, 135.
Doris, 112.
Dragon, story of the, which
killed a young man, and
is destroyed by Thomas,
250 ff.
Drusiana, 159; is coveted by
a servant, 161 ; is ague-
struck and dies, 162 ; her
tomb is opened by the
steward of Andronicus,
165 ; her grave clothes
are taken from her, 166;
a serpent prevents the
foul deed of the servant,
166; she raises Fortuna-
tus, 172.
Edessa, 222.
Egetes, 202.
Egypt, 313, 315.
Elijah, 42.
Elisha, 42.
Encratites, 201, 223.
Ephesus, 2, 3, 138.
Eubola, 83, 84.
Eubula, 3.
Eubulus, 38.
Eucharistic prayer, 268.
Euphemia, 112.
Eutropius, 125.
Eve, 206, 252.
Falconilla, 2(>.
Festus, 45.
Flaccus, 56.
Flute-girl, the Hebrew, and
the Apostle Thomas, 229,
232.
Fortunatus, 167, 172 f, dies of
blood-poisoning, 175.
Gad, the brother of King
Gundafor, his sickness and
death, 242; caught away
by angels, he is shown
the heavenly palace built
for his brother by the
Apostle Thomas, 242; is
allowed to return to earth
to obtain the heavenly
palace from the King,
243 ; is permitted by the
King to occupy the pal-
ace, 244 ; is sealed by
Thomas, 246.
Gaul, 43.
370
INDEX
Gemellus, lo.
Gennesaret, 179.
Gnostic dedication-prayer,
247.
Gomorrha, 6.
Gundafor, King of India, the
Apostle Thomas bought
for, as a carpenter, 226;
engages Thomas to build
a palace for him, 239 ; see-
ing no palace built, he
throws Thomas and the
merchant, who bought
him, into prison, 242 ; on
the death of his brother,
he resolves to put Thomas
to death, 242 ; the brother
of, sees the palace in
heaven built by Thomas
and obtained liberty to
return to secure it for
himself, 243 ; grants his
brother permission to
dwell in the heavenly pal-
ace, 244; is baptized and
sealed, 246.
Hades, 233.
Hermias, 31.
Hermippus, 5.
Hermocrates, 5.
Herod, 72, 253.
Hymns, 180 f, 230 f, 312 fif.
Iconium, 4, 14.
Iconoclasts appeal to the Acts
of John, 124.
Image-worship, 1-^3.
India, 222 ; falls to the lot
of Thomas, 225.
Iphidamia, 202.
Iphitus, 61.
Italicus, 83.
James, son of Zebedee, 225.
Jerome, 3.
Jerusalem, 6; taken by Ves-
pasian, 126.
Jesus, meets Peter departing
from Rome to avoid per-
secution, and tells him He
is coming to be crucified
for him, 115; how de-
scribed by John, 175 ff.
Jews cause the death of
Christians, 128.
John, brother of James, 225.
John, Acts of, 123 ff ; his
fame reaches Domitian,
128; is sent for by the
emperor, 128; accom-
panies the soldiers to
Rome and inspires them
with reverence for him,
129; his interview with
Domitian, 130; takes
deadly poison before
Domitian without injury,
131 ; restores to life the
condemned criminal
whom the washing of
poison cup had killed, 133 ;
cures a slave of the em-
peror's who was tor-
mented by a demon, 134 ;
sent to Patmos, 135 ; in
the reign of Trajan goes
to Ephesus, 135 ; his min-
istry here, 135 ; appoints
Polycarp bishop, 135 ;
goes to Ephesus, 136; his
work there, 137 f ; re-
stores to life Cleopatra
and Lycomedes, 140 ff;
sees his picture, 143 ;
heals the old women, 145 ;
tells why he came to
Ephesus, 146; before
leaving goes to the temple
of Artemis, 149; ad-
dresses the people there,
149; at his prayer the
temple falls down and
kills one of the priests,
150; restores him to life,
153 ; meets a parricide,
154; restores to life the
dead father, 156; is asked
to come to Smyrna, 157;
looks at a partridge, 158;
INDEX
371
reproves a priest, 158;
goes again to Ephesus,
159; is molested by bugs,
160; his words occasioned
by the death of Drusiana,
163 ; in the tomb of
Drusiana he sees a beau-
tiful youth, Callimachus
with a big snake on him,
and the steward Fortuna-
tus being dead, 167 ; he
raises Callimachus, 168 ;
also Drusiana, 170; prays
in the tomb, 174; dis-
courses on the person of
Jesus, 175 ff; his last
service and exhortation,
189 f ; orders his grave to
be dug, 192; his last
prayer and death, 192 flf.
— John and the robber,
196 fif (Appendix).
Jonah, 41, 42.
Judas, 72, 253, 296.
Judas, son of James, 225.
Kosan, 312.
Labyrinth, 316, 317.
Lectra, 14.
Leonidas, 201.
Leucius Charinus, x, xi, 10,
51, 124; called " discipulus
diaboli," 201.
Longinus, 6.
Longus, 45, 48.
Luke, 43, 47, 48.
Lycomedes, 136; has a pic-
ture of John made, 142.
Lysimachus, 61.
Lystra, 14.
Macedonia, 3, 63.
Manichseans, xi, 201, 223.
Marcellus, influenced by
Simon Magus blas-
phemes, 71 ; repents, 74 ;
restores a broken statue,
78; attacks Simon, 80;
invites Peter to his house,
87 ; what he sees in his
sleep, 93 ; takes down the
body of Peter from the
cross and buries it, 121.
Marcia, the nurse of Myg-
donia, 324; is baptized,
325.
Marcus the Gnostic, 108.
Martyrdom of Andrew, 216 f.
Martyrdom of Thomas, 355 f.
Mary, 39, 40.
Matthew, 225.
Maximilla, 202; takes the
body of Andrew down
from the cross, 221.
Mesene, 313, 317.
Miletus, 7.
Misdai (Masdai), king of In-
dia, his commander comes
to Thomas, 279 ; sends his
wife Tertia to Mygdonia,
334; tells Charis of what
he learned from Tertia,
337 ; his demoniac son
cured by the dust of the
place where the bones of
Thomas had lain, 361 ; is
received into the church,
362.
Mnesar, Vazan's wife, 348.
Mygdonia, wife of Charis,
comes to Thomas, 294;
refuses having inter-
course with her husband,
299; is strengthened by
Thomas, 301 ff ; resists all
efforts of Charis, 303;
leaves the house at night
and goes to her nurse,
305 ; goes to the house of
Sifor to hear Thomas,
307 ; resists all approaches
of Charis, and while he is
asleep goes to see Thomas.
322 f ; is strengthened by
the apostle and asks for
baptism, 324; is baptized,
^,26; the apostle asks her
V7^
INDEX
to obey Charis but in
vain, 331.
Myra, 5.
Myrte, 7.
Narcissus, 61, 6}, ; Peter in
the house of, 69, 80.
Nature, lower, 185.
Nero, persecutes the Chris-
tians and orders the be-
heading of Paul, 45;
blames Agrippa for hav-
ing killed Peter, 121 ;
seeks to destroy all whom
Peter had had instructed,
122; but is warned in a
vision, 122.
Nexocharis, 201.
Nicaea, Council of, 124.
Nicaria, 112.
Nicostratus, loi.
Numbers, Eight (Ogdoad)
and Twelve, 181.
Nympha, 5.
Oil, anointing with, 246, 325,
353 f.
Onesiphorus, receives Paul,
14-
Origenians, 201.
Palace, the, built by Thomas
the apostle for King
Gundafor, 239.
Parthenius, 47.
Parthia, 222, 315.
Patmos, John sent to, by
Domitian, 135.
Patroclus, 48.
Paul, Acts of, iflf; goes to
Iconium where he is re-
ceived by Onesiphorus —
his personal appearance
described, 13 f ; converts
Thecla, 17; cast into
prison by the governor,
21 ; visited in prison by
Thecla, 21 ; cast out of
the city, 22 ; fasts with
Onesiphorus, 23 ; goes
with Thecla to Antioch,
24; corresponds with the
Corinthians, 35 ff ; revives
Patroclus, Nero's cup
bearer, 44; appears to
Nero, 48; conversion of
his persecutors, 49; at
Rome converts Candida,
wife of Quartus, 57 ; pre-
pares to go to Spain, 58 ;
preaches and prays before
leaving, 59; is conducted
to the harbor, 61 ; martyr-
dom of, 43flf; is behead-
ed, 47.
Perge, 5.
Peter, Acts of, 5ofif; his
paralytic daughter. 53 ;
called Petronilla, 56; his
afifair with Simon, 57 ff;
is directed to leave Je-
rusalem for Rome, 64;
enters a ship at Caesarea
and baptizes Theon in the
Adriatic Sea, 65 ; lands at
Puteoli where he is wel-
comed by Ariston, 66 ff ;
hastens to Rome to meet
Simon, 69 ; exhorts the
Christians in the house
of Narcissus, 69; is asked
to overcome Simon. 71 ;
goes to the house of Mar-
cellus to see Simon but is
refused, 'j'j) 5 sends a
speaking dog to Simon,
74 ; drives out a demon,
"^T, causes a smoked
tunny to swim ; sends a
suckling child to Simon
that confounds him, 81 ;
sees Jesus by night, 82;
tells the brethren of
Simon's doings in the
house of EuboTa. 83 ; how
he was detected, 84; and
why he left Judea, 86;
goes to the house of
INDEX
373
Marcellus, 87 ; heals a
blind woman, 85 ; speaks
of Jesus, 89; heals many
blind women, gi ; meets
with Simon, whom he
exposes before the Ro-
mans, 94; answers the
blasphemy of Simon, 96;
asks Simon to do a sign,
97; revives several dead
people, g8f(; preaches re-
pentance, 105; goes into
the house of Marcellus,
105 ; heals many, 108 ; re-
futes Simon, 108; sees
him ascend, but asks
Jesus to make him fall
down. III; preaches in
Rome, 112; his life being
endangered, is advised to
leave the city, 114; meets
the Lord outside of the
gate, 115; returns to the
city, is seized and brought
before Agrippa, 115; his
address to the cross, 116;
asks to be crucified with
the head downward, 118;
explains the reason, 118
ff ; his body taken down
by Marcellus and buried,
121 ; appears to Marcellus
by night, 121.
Petronilla, daughter of Peter,
56.
Pharaoh, 72, 253.
Pheretas, 47.
Phila, 4.
Philip, 225.
Philippi, 7, 39.
Philostrate, 61.
Phrontina, 67.
Pilate, 253.
Prayers, 60 f, 247, 268 f, 341,
343-
Prayers addressed to Jesus,
139, 190, 233, 352, 359-
Ptolemy, 54.
Punishments of the wicked,
Puteoli, 66.
Quartus, 57.
Rome, 7.
Rufina, punished, 59.
Sarbug, 313.
Saul, 6.
Seleucia, 32.
Septimius Severus, xi.
Sidon, 5, 6.
Sifor, 307; is summoned be-
fore King Misdai, 308;
speaks of Thomas and his
cures, 309; asks to be
baptized with his wife
and daughter, 332; made
a presbyter by Thomas,
361.
Simmias, 14.
Simon, 7, 38.
Simon (Peter), 225.
Simon, the Cananaean, 225.
Simon Magus, viii ; his do-
ings at Aricia, 62; at
Rome, 63 ; in the house
of Marcellus, 71 ; his con-
tention with the dog, 78:
is driven from the house
of Marcellus, 81 ; goes to
the house of Narcissus to
contend with Peter, 81 ;
is attacked by a suckling
child and becomes speech-
less, 82; his trickery in
the house of Eubola, 83 ;
why he left Judea, 85;
meets with Peter at
Rome, 94 ; blasphemes
Jesus, 95 ; is answered by
Peter, 96; causes a lad
to die, whom Peter re-
vives, 99 ; tries to raise
another dead, but in vain,
103; tries again many
374
INDEX
tricks, but is refuted by
Peter, io8; tries to fly
but falls down and
breaks his shank, iii; is
taken to Aricia, where he
dies, 112.
Sodom, 6.
Stephanus, 38.
Stratocles, 205, 221,
Stratonicus, 108.
Stratonike, 7, 39.
Suckling child confounds
Simon Magus, 82.
Tertia, wife of Misdai, goes
to Mgydonia, 334; is in-
duced to hear Thomas,
335; tells Misdai of her
meeting with Thomas,
336.
Thamyris provoked by the
conduct of Thecla, his
betrothed, 17 ff ; brings
Paul before the gov-
ernor, 20.
Thecla, reference to her in
patristic literature, 10 flf ;
hears Paul preaching,
and is so entranced by
him that she hearkens
not to mother nor lover,
17 ff; evil counsels of
Demas and Hermogenes
against, 17 ; visits Paul in
prison, 21 ; condemned to
be burned, but is miracu-
lously delivered, 22 f ;
goes with Paul to An-
tioch, 24 ; vile conduct of
Alexander the Syrian to-
wards, 25 ; condemned to
be thrown to v/ild beasts,
she receives the sympathy
of Tryphaena, 26 ; thrown
to the wild beasts, but
they have no power to
hurt her, 27 ; baptizes
herself, 28; bound be-
tween two fierce bulls,
but remains unhurt, 29;
is set at liberty, 30; goes
to Myra seeking Paul,
30; visits her mother at
Iconium, 31 ; goes to
Seleucia and takes up
her abode in a cave,
where she performs many
cures, 32; plot laid for
her by certain young
men, from which she is
miraculously delivered,
S3 ; period of her life and
age, 32, 34.
Theoclia, 17.
Thenoe, 38.
Theon baptized by Peter, 65.
Theophilus, 38.
Theudes, 6.
Thomas, Acts of, 222 ff ; his
kindness, 224; India falls
to the lot of, 226; refuses
to go and is sold by his
Master as a carpenter for
Gundafor, an Indian
King, 226 ; submits to his
Master's will, 227 ;
reaches Andrapolis, and
is obliged to attend a
royal marriage feast, 228;
struck by a cup-bearer,
229; the song of, 230;
taken by the King to the
bridal chamber to pray
for the married couple,
223 ; the Lord converses
with the bride and bride-
groom in the form of,
234; the King is enraged
with, 237 ; imdertakes to
build a palace for King
Gundafor, 239; expends
the money entrusted to
him for the palace on the
poor and afflicted, 240 ;
the King, finding no pal-
ace built, throws him into
prison, resolving to flay
and burn him, 242 ; curi-
INDEX
375
ous story of his release
from prison, 244; baptizes
King Gundafor, 246; con-
tinues preaching, 248; the
Lord appears to, 250;
story of, in relation to
the young man and the
dragon, 250 ff ; is ad-
dressed by a colt, 260; a
young woman tormented
by an unclean demon de-
livered by, 262 fif ; story
of, in relation to the
young man who killed the
maiden, 270 ff; raises the
maiden to life, who re-
lates what she saw in the
unseen world, 273 ff ; his
preaching, miracles and
success, 277 if ; a com-
mander comes to him be-
seeching him for his wife
and daughter, 279 ff ; be-
comes a believer, 282 ;
accompanies Thomas on
his journey, 284; wild
asses come to the apos-
tle's help, 285 ; stop at
the house of the com-
mander, 286; the apostle
heals the commander's
wife and daughter, 293 ;
is visited by Mygdonia,
294; preaches to the mul-
titude, 295 ; addresses
Mygdonia, 298 ; is taken
before King Misdai and
imprisoned, 311 ; his
psalm in prison, 312 ff;
baptizes Mygdonia, 326;
is summoned to appear
before the King, 328;
defends his teaching, 328 ;
offered freedom provided
he persuade Mygdonia to
live with Charis, 329; re-
turns to the house of
Sifor, 332; is taken to the
tribunal of Misdai, 337;
is visited by Vazan, the
King's son, 338; is put
barefooted on hot plates,
339; is asked by the
King to pray for him
and is taken back to the
prison, 340; preaches and
prays there, 341 f ; is vis-
ited by Tertia, Mygdo-
nia, and Marcia, 349;
goes to the house of
Vazan, 352 ; baptizes
Vazan. Tertia, Mnesar,
353 ; returns to the prison,
355 ; discourses on the
person of Jesus, 356; is
brought before the King,
357 ; is condemned to
death, 358 ; his last words
and prayer, 359; his
death, 360 ; laid in a tomb,
360; the dust of the place
where his bones had lain
heals a demoniac son of
Misdai, 361.
Thrasymachus, 5, 6.
Threptus, 38, 39.
Timothy, 63.
Titus, 14, 43, 47, 48.
Torments of the wicked, the
273 fif.
Tryphsena, how she befriends
Thecla, 25, 26.
Tyre, 6.
Urion, 45.
Vazan, Misdai's son, asks
Thomas concerning his
God, 338 ; is convinced,
seeks an opportunity to
help Thomas escape, 339 ;
asks Thomas for baptism,
348; made a deacon by
the apostle, 361.
Verceili, 51.
Vespasian is succeeded by
Domitian, 127.
376
INDEX
Warkan, 317.
Wicked, the place and the
punishments of, 273 ff.
World, unseen, description of,
273 f^-
Xanthippe, 113.
Xenophon, 100, 283; ap-
pointed by Thomas to
care for the commander
and the other believers,
284.
Young man, the, who kills a
maiden, the story of, 270
flf.
Zeno, 14, 38.
Paralipomena
The
Remains of Gospels and Sayings of Christ
By BERNHARD PICK
Boards, Cloth Back Price 75 cents net (3s. 6d. net)
tinr^HIS most fascinating anthology of Logia ... a little book
M. of extraordinary interest, and one which is evidently the fruit
of extraordinary labor. In it he has collected more of the ex-
tra canonical "Sayings" than have ever before been brought together
in English. . . . The fragments here brought together are in many
cases so intrinsically true and beautiful as to be well worth our study,
though their authenticity be at best hypothetical." — London Spectator.
Prof. Nestle of Maulbrown writes: "I shall place your book at the
side of Resch to have it easily at hand. Please accept my heartiest
thanks that you mention contributions of mine (in the Bibliography)
which I myself would have difficulty to refer to."
"Alfred Resch, the famous author of Agrapha, writes: "Your
Paralipomena was a great joy to me. With great interest have I ex-
amined the texts of your excellent book, which are very complete, and
I have incorporated your book into my department of Agrapha.
Many good acquaintances have I found in your collection, and was
reminded of my former lucubrations."
"All students of the beginnings of Christianity will be grateful to
Dr. Pick for this collection of materials from other sources than the
New Testament. He has gathered more non-canonical sayings than
any of his predecessors in this field of publication and furnishes an ad-
mirably complete bibliography." — UnitXf.
The Open Court Publishing Co.
p. O. Drawer F. 378-388 Wabash Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
I
'
h
'■<f>. •'
I
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
kujyt^?f,^\fzD sv ?MA$g^ ^X
f\ A
SEEN BY
PRESERVATION
SERVICES
Live Music
Archive
Librivox
Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland
Museum of Art
Internet
Arcade
Console Living Room
Open Library
American
Libraries
TV News
Understanding
9/11